Tanzania to intensive security at Dar port

Tanzania government has ensured security and smooth facilitation of imports and exports to fellow East African member states. It has been learnt. Acting Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General Awadh Masawe  said last week in Dar es Salaam that, his authority has instituted an integrated electronic security systems to be controlled at its newly 35 storey building which is currently in final touches. He said during the occasion of demolishing old sheds at the port as a symbolic program to kick start the multi billion worth of a project aimed to modernize the infrastructural upgrades targeting the expansion of the Dar es Salaam Port that would handle 22 million metric tones by 2020. The project dubbed Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Modernization (DMGM) project, is backed by World Bank and Department for International Development’s 596 million US dollars (over 1.1bn/-) as soft loan and grant, will see the country’s prime port improve infrastructure and manpower. 

The aerial view of the Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania.

He said the cost for installation of security systems is $ 600 million which his authority has spent for the purpose that he is optimistic it would reduce to a greater extent the rate at which theft had been taking place within the yard in the past years. However, he noted that, currently there is in use a scanning programme of the integrated machines which is used for containers which are being off loaded and packed for exportation. Describing about the DMGM project which is part of Big Results Now initiative will include modernising and upgrading of Berth 1 to 7 from 9 to 13 meters in order to accommodate more ships. He said many ships do not anchor to Tanzania because of its shallow depth and that there ids a need to made a reform in order to attract customers from landlocked countries from using other ports. He said efficiency at the country’s major sea gateway has continued to improve under BRN, adding that the cargo handled last year peaked over 14 million metric tons against the target of 31.5 million tons. “Our target is to handle 18 million metric tons by 2016/17 season,” Mr Masawe said while pointing out that under phase one of the project, with funding from Trade mark East Africa and TPA, the work will involve construction of access roads to Gates 5 and 8 to dual carriageways.