DAR ES SALAAM: CONSTRUCTION of the long-awaited Bagamoyo Port is expected to begin next month, after the government completed preparations for the first phase of the project estimated to cost about 26tri/- , Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General, Mr Plasduce Mbossa, has said. Mr Mbossa said work is scheduled to start next month, with the first phase involving dredging of the port basin, construction of the shipping access channel and development of the initial berths. “We expect the project to commence this year.
The first phase will involve dredging the port, including the ship access channel and berth areas. At the same time , construction of the berths will begin. Our expectation is to start work in August,” he said during an exclusive interview with a local media outlet.
He said extensive dredging would be carried out to create a deep shipping channel capable of accommodating large ocean-going vessels before berth construction progresses. Mr Mbossa said the project would be implemented in phases over about three years, with key infrastructure expected to be completed within the first one-and-a-half year, to pave way for additional berth construction and cargo operations. Once fully developed, the port is expected to have capacity for 38 berths, making it the largest seaport in East Africa, according to TPA.
“Bagamoyo Port has the potential to have 38 berths. That is a very large number, meaning it will become a much bigger port than any other in East Africa,” he said. Mr Mbossa said the government views Bagamoyo Port as a complement, not a competitor to the Dar es Salaam Port, saying the two facilities will work together to improve cargohandling capacity and efficiency.
“As Tanzania, we consider Bagamoyo Port to be an extension of the Dar es Salaam Port. Some ships will choose Bagamoyo while others will continue using the Dar es Salaam Port. What we want is greater efficiency, lower transport costs and faster cargo handling,” he said.
He said expanding port infrastructure would help reduce cargo clearance delays that increase costs for importers and exporters. ALSO READ: Urban railway line, Bagamoyo Port, Tanzania’s new major projects “We don’t want someone importing a vehicle to wait for an entire week after paying all the required charges before collecting it. Ideally, the day the vehicle is unloaded should be the same day it is collected,” …
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