After almost 60 years, the Port of Tanga, the longest serving sea port on the East African coast is about to regain its attractiveness and pride.
Tanga Port, which was operational as early as the late 1880s, is now undergoing massive upgrading that would enable the terminal to accommodate large ships and increase cargo flow.
The expansion of this strategically positioned port on the Northern coast of Tanzania is expected to spur economic growth in tandem with the country's quest for industrialisation. Once complete, the project will certainly be a masterstroke and will go down in history as one of the biggest development goals scored in post-Independence of Tanzania.
According to the Acting Port Manager, Mr. Donald Ngaile, prior to 2019, no tangible development was done at the Port of Tanga for over six decades. The Port's first major development took place in 1918, when the first 240-meter quay wall was constructed.
The second 141-meter quay was completed in 1954. Since then, no investment has been made at this seaport, which is strategically located to serve the northern regions of Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Manyara, the lake zone and neighboring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Northern part of Uganda.
But the fifth-phase Government's ambitious efforts to develop economic infrastructures breathed a new lifeline to the country's second largest seaport. Thus, in the year 2017/2018, the Government sanctioned the upgrading of this lighterage port situated in the Northern coast area of Tanzania in close proximity to the border with the Republic of Kenya.
"While launching the Chongoleani project in 2017, the late President John Magufuli ordered the expansion of Tanga Port with immediate effect," revealed Mr. Ngaile.
In August, 2019 the Government signed a 172.36bn/- contract with the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. to undertake the first phase of Tanga Port development, which included dredging of a port channel and supply of operation equipment. Shallow water has been among obstacles for large vessels to dock at Tanga Port.
But currently, the dredging work is going on to increase the port channel depth from the current 3.5 to 5 metres to 11 metres. The dredging, which is yet to be completed, is bearing fruits. Ships are now docking only 200 metres from the berth.
Tanga Port's Acting Operations Manager, Idd Kasongo said: "Previously, the loading and unloading of cargo was taking place 1.7 km away from the berth. For decades - he recalls - ships have been anchored at the inner anchorage Tanga bay and movements of cargo to and from the mother vessel are performed by the use of cargo barges and lighters with the support of Tug boats towing the barges/lighters to and from the vessel."
"Cargo handling has now become easier for us; we have significantly reduced cargo handling time and cut down fuel consumption. Supervision of work has also improved and increased efficiency," Kasongo reflects on the increased channel depth.
As per the contract, the first-phase project would see the Chinese firm supply one 45-tonne Hydraulic Truck Crane, two 100-tonne Hydraulic Truck Cranes, navigational aids, front end loaders, and an empty container handler that can stick five containers high.
Last August, the Government inked another contract with the CHEC for the implementation of the second phase project to the tune of 256.8bn/-.for the construction of two 450-metres berths.
"We have started with the first 150-metre berth and, once completed ships with less than 150-metre length will start docking at this berth," says Mr. Ngaile.
This demonstrates the Government's keenness to turn the Port of Tanga into a competitive terminal that would sufficiently and efficiently serve customers in the country, the East African region and the Great Lakes region. The present port capacity is 700,000 tons per annum.<
This capacity was surpassed in the year 2015/16 whereby the port handled 845,000 tons per annum. But upon completion of the two new berths the port's cargo handling capacity is expected to increase to 3,000,000 tonnes per annum. Three warehouses with a total storage capacity of 13,400 tonnes have also been refurbished.
The port's upgrading has generated a lot of optimism, casting a brighter future for the country's economy, especially in the northern regions. Mr. Ngaile said that the upgrading and expanding of this port would smoothen operations, improve the cost of doing business to northern Tanzania, by reducing the transit time to the northern circuit.
"We'll establish more businesses upon the completion of the two new berths," he says, noting the first berth will be completed in a 10-month period. Mr. Ngaile believes the Port is going to attract more shippers and the economy of the region and surrounding regions and contribute immensely to the country's GDP.
In 2018, the late President John Magufuli availed Tanga Port with a mobile scanner to increase efficiency in cargo handling. "We have both gantry and mobile scanners. The mobile scanner has made our work easier, it is very fast and very efficient," said Simon Sayu, a scanner operator, adding that by using the mobile scanner they are capable of scanning 500 containers within 24 hours.
Ngaile urges shippers to choose Tanga Port, insisting it is one of the most efficient in the region with less cargo traffic. The construction of a modern jetty at Raskazone Oil terminal capable of accommodating medium-sized petroleum products tankers of Aframax with a Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) of between 80,000 and 120,000 metric tonnes, is another project that will be implemented by Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).
According to Mr. Ngaile, the TPA is currrently carrying out a feasibility study for the Raskazone Oil Jet project, but the port has facilities to handle petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas. The Government decided to use Tanga port as the second entry point option for petroleum products under Bulk System of Importation (BPS), effective from July 2015.
"A digital flow-meter has been installed at the facility and was commissioned on February 25th, this year. The installment of the flow-meter has increased revenues and taxes to the Government," said Tanga Port Manager Ngaile, who notes that the old dipping method caused the Government massive revenue losses.
In March, this year, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, then presiding as the Vice-President, toured the port to inspect construction of the two berths and installation of the flow-meter.
The then Tanga Regional Commissioner Martine Shigella used the occasion to appeal to the Government to invest in the construction of a modern shipyard for the port which is expected to make Tanzania a major regional fuel trading hub after completion of the upgrading work. In response, the Minister for Works and Transport, Leonard Chamuriho, made a pledge that the dockyard for repairing and building of ships will be constructed at the port.
The Minister said the Government continues with major upgrades of ports to improve service delivery and make Tanzania a major regional trading and logistics hub. "We are going to build a dockyard at the port. There's no need for ships to go outside the country for maintenance," he said.
There are big expectations among port stakeholders in Tanga since the region will also be the main point to handle oil from Hoima in Uganda after the completion of the East African Crude Oil pipeline project. "We'll certainly capitalise on the EACOP, the project will keep our port busy throughout, and more big ships will come to Tanga, which will definitely increase our revenues." He says future plans include the construction of a dedicated terminal for general cargo and a passenger terminal.