Tanga Port’s Revenue Collections Surges By Over 11bn/- Within Six Months -

Mr Masoud Mrisha, the Manager of Tanga Port

By Senior Reporter VALENTINE OFORO

THE port of Tanga, has successfully managed to collect at least 49.844bn/- from July 2024 to January 2025, the amount which represents an increase of 11.143bn/- compared to what was collected at the facility during the financial year 2023/24.

Mr. Masoud Mrisha, the Manager of Tanga port informed the publication that the impressive improvement in the revenue collection resulted from key investments that the Sixth Phase Government has allocated at the Northern sea gate.

He added, during 2019/2022 and 2022/23, the facility improved it’s revenues collections from 17.233bn/- to 38.701bn/-, being an increase of at least 17.682bn/-, he briefed.

“During 2019 and 2021, the Government through the Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) implemented a 429.1bn/- worth project for the general facelifting of the port,” he said.

Through the projects which were implemented within two major phases by the Chinese Engineering Company (CHEC), Mr Mrisha expressed that the port started to register a series of milestones.

The expansion, he said, entailed expansion of entrance channel and turning basin, procurement of 13 new relevant machineries, construction of a special ICT centre, installation of power substation and pump house, implemented at around 256.8bn/-.

“The project has increased the port’s cargo handling capacity from 750,000 tons to 3,000,000,” he said, nothing that before the project, during 2019,20 the port used to serve around 470,611 tons but from 2023/24, the facility has already served a total of 1,191,480 tons, which is an increase of about 720,869 tons,”

The manager added that the initiative has also increased the port’s capability to serve for ships, saying before the project the port used to harbour 118 vessels, but currently the facility is serving over 307 ships in a year.

“The refurbishment of the port has also played key role to minimize, and completely remove some nuisance taxes, for instance, before the project, a client was charged around 1.3 USD per each ton, but the tax has currently removed,” he informed.

He said the port was now attracting a good number of shipping line from giant companies, including the Seafront Shipping Services Limited which is sailing carrying cargos directly from China to Tanga port.

Working with over 200 registered clear and forward companies,being from 29 companies before expansion, Mrisha expressed that the port has now manage to create employment to at least 17,871 indigenous in Tanga, who are working as casual laborer per month.

“We’re happy because our grow has positive impact to the communities in Tanga region,” he said.

He hailed President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for enabling a major refurbishment at the port, saying they are looking forward to start receiving more ships from other famous shipping companied from outside.

Port of Tanga is the second largest port in Tanzania. It is located on Tanga Bay in Central ward of Tanga District of Tanga Region.