Why Invest In Tanzania Marine Transport?

The development of ports in Tanzania has a long history extending well over a century commencing with the initial coastal settlements at Dar es Salaam and Tanga in the 19th century. Both ports served hinterlands stretching to Moshi and Arusha in the north and from Dar es Salaam across the country to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika and Mwanza on Lake Victoria. Lake ports were also developed at these
locations to serve the lakeside communities and provide trading nodes to surrounding settlements. Initially, railways were constructed providing access to the hinterlands and linking the lake ports to the coast. The coastal ports became important ports of call for both freight and passenger shipping movements and were the main gateways for international travel between the country and foreign destinations, particularly in the Middle East and Europe which by the 20th century were the primary trading partners.

Both sea and inland waterways ports in Tanzania are managed and operated by the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).  
The port of Dar es Salaam is one of the key entry points into the East Africa region with an annual throughput of 10 million tons handling about 93% of Tanzania’s port traffic. Tanga port handles about 0.6 million tons comprising mostly of agricultural and local industry materials. Being a lighterage port, Tanga is disadvantaged by its double handling operation and it is also sandwiched between the major ports of Mombasa in the north and Dar es Salaam to it south. Mtwara port handles about 0.2 million tons a year and although it is emerging as an anchor port for the offshore oil and gas industry linkages to its inland hinterland are currently poor and still in their development phase.The primary lake ports comprising Mwanza on Lake Victoria and Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika are the most important for transit traffic and handle approximately 250,000 tons and 150,000 tons a year, respectively. The use of these two ports is entirely dependent upon the efficient functioning of Tanzania Railway Ltd. (TRL) and the steep decline in services provided by the railway has resulted in similar steep declines in throughputs at both lake ports.

Maritime transport vessel in Dar es Salaam is also an important outlet for neighboring land-locked countries. In 2009 it had a rated capacity of 4.1 million (deadweight tonnage) dry cargo and 6.0 million (deadweight tonnage) bulk liquid cargo. Cargo volumes handled at the port have expanded by 15% per year since 2004.

Possible Investment Opportunities Over Marine Transportation

• Supply of provision to ships such as fresh water, brokers and slop chest for ships

• Providing ships docking facility -Synchno Lift/engraved Dock. Possible areas for investing are Tanga, Dar es Salaam, Mtwara ports; and Mwanza on Lake Victoria, Kigoma and Kasanga ports on Lake Tanganyika and Itungi on Lake Nyasa

• Private  operator’s participation in providing marine services over Lake Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa

• Provide dry docking service  to ports

• Build a car freight station and freight village which will offer an opportunity for consolidating cargo handling activities in the port, rail, and road in a designated area.