TASHICO Set To Celebrate This Year’s Independence Day With Remarkable Milestones -

All projects in the second phase generally gobble up to 326,027,480.02 US Dollars, which is equal to 893,315,295,254.8 Shillings

By Staff Writer, Mwanza

THE state – owned entity Tanzania Shipping Company Ltd (TASHICO) is set to celebrate this year’s Independence Day on December 9, with much to brag as it succeeded to fetch remarkable milestones since it’s official inception.

The company, begun it’s operations in 1961 under the name of TRC Marine Division, with a major zeal to advance the country’s shipping sector has so far managed to execute a number of robust projects.

The projects, among others included those based on rehabilitation of the dilapidated vessels, building new ships as well as improving the Tanzania’s water transportation, especially in the key populated water bodies of Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa lakes.

According to the Company’s Managing Director, Mr Eric B. Hamissi, immediately after Independence, the company operated under the supervision of the East African Community, whereby the government had continued to provide water transport services in lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa using three vessels, namely MV ships. Victoria, M.V. clarias (1961) in Lake Victoria; and M.V. Liemba (1913) in Lake Tanganyika.

The vessels, according to him, served Victoria lake, M.V. Butiama, (1980), MT. Ukerewe (1983) and M.V. Serengeti (1988), whereby the Tanganyika lake was served by M.T. Sangara (1981) and,M.V. Mwongozo (1982).

Transport Minister, Mr Makame Mbarawa (Left) receive information about TASHICO activities from TASHICO Managing Director Eric Hamissi in a recent event.

“The remaining two vessels were directed to facilitate transportation at lake Nyasa, including M.V. Songea and M.V. Iringa,” he informed.

In 1997 the TRC Marine Division was transformed to MSCL, under the Companies Act chapter 212, on 08 December 1997 from the Railway Corporation (TRC), but it started operations on August 1, 1999 with 14 ships and one boat.

“The reason behind the transformation was to enable the then division at TRC to become a full-fledged company, the reasonable development which laid the foundation for remarkable achievement in the sector” he said.

The move sparked some notable success, he said, as the company managed to own at least 14 ships as of 2015, saying out of the vessels, nine are based in lake Victoria, three and one boat serves at lake Tanganyika and two in lake Nyasa.

“But by then, many ships were there for a long time, they became worn out and led to others being stopped from providing services to protect the safety of the vessel and the safety of people’s lives and their property,” he noted.

He said the situation compelled the company to remain with only five active vessels by 2017, that used to sail at lake Victoria (MV.Umoja and MV Clarias), lake Tanganyika was served with MV Liemba and MT Sangara, whereby lake Nyasa was facilitated by MV Songea.

To that end, Mr Hamissi informed that in 2017 the government started to set aside enough money to enable implementation of four major projects at lake Victoria.

On the same vein, he said in 2022 the government directed the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to raise a specific budget to allow implementation of four major projects at lake Victoria.

“The focus was to revamp water transport towards passengers and luggages at the lake,” he said.

To fuel the strategy, he said in 2022, the government ordered TPA to handover three vessels to MSCL, including MV. Mbeya II, MV. Njombe and MV. Ruvuma. The ships which are currently still role out services at lake Nyasa.

Implementation of the four projects at lake Victoria was completed under the two major phases, according to him.

“The first phase was implemented from 2018-2023, which saw construction of a new ship, MV Mwanza “Hapa Kazi Tu”, with capacity to carry a total of 1, 200 passengers together with 400 tons of cargo at lake Victoria,” he detailed.

TASHICO Managing Director, Mr Eric Hamissi

He added, the phase also incorporated construction of a special ship building -backup, as well as repair of MV Victoria vessel which ply to Kwemba Bukoba from Mwanza via Kemondo.

Together with that, Mr Hamissi added that during the first phase, MV Butiama was rehabilitated into ‘New Butiama Hapa Kazi Tu’ , saying the vessel is sailing daily to Nansio from Mwanza.

“The ongoing second phase ( 2023 to 2028) works to accomplish four key projects,” he said.

He unveiled the projects as construction of a new ship with a capacity of 3,000 tons in Lake Victoria, major repair of the ship MV. Union carrying wagons in Lake Victoria.

“The contract for this project was signed on June 15, 2021 and completed in September, 2023. Currently, the ship continues to transport cargo since October 2023,” the Director added.

Giving further details pertaining to the projects under the second phase, he said include repair of a rescue ship, MV Ukerewe in Lake Victoria.

” Among the ongoing project also include a major repair of oil cargo ship, MV Nyangumi, its contract was signed on November 17, 2023,” he briefed.

Transport Minister, Mr Makame Mbarawa (Lef) shakes hands with TASHICO Managing Director Eric Hamissi in a recent event

Not only that, he said the other four projects is being implemented in lake Tanganyika. “These include repair of oil cargo ship, MT Sangara, construction of a new cargo ship with capacity to harbor at least 3,500 tons at a go,” he informed.

With an eye to improve service delivery in the sector, he said the ongoing program involves installation of a ship building factory at lake Tanganyika, and a major repair of MV Liemba.

“All projects in the second phase generally gobble up to 326,027,480.02 US Dollars, which is equal to 893,315,295,254.8 Shillings,” he unveiled.

And the director said, on 18th November 2024, the government decided to transform MSCL into TASHICO in yet another bid to heighten the performance of the sector.

“These changes are brought about by the revolution made in the water transport sector by the government of the Sixth Phase of the Hon. Dr. Samia Solution Hassan,” he appreciated.

He added,” this change is also due to TASHICO’s plans to have ships in the Indian Ocean for which the feasibility study has begun and the ships will be traveling in the Middle East, as well as in the far East such as China, to mention but a few,”

Mr Hamissi also explained that the process has taken shape to introduce the company”s ships in the Indian Ocean, saying in this financial year, 2024/2025, a feasibility study is being done whereby in the next financial year 2025/2026 construction will start for one cargo ship.

“However, there will be cargo ships that will make their trips to the Comoro islands,” he insisted.

Until the year 2030, he informed, TASHICO is expected to have 5,000 workers in order to be able to meet the needs of the ships owned by the company.

“The goal is to continue working together so as to make a significant contribution to the national income through water transport. Our country is surrounded by water from the sea to the great lakes, therefore the Government is going to bring about a revolution in this sector through TASHICO,”

Detailing over the key reason for changing the company’s name, from MSCL into currently TASHICO, he said: “The reasons, among others is to bring a big change in our identity and lay a solid foundation for the growth of the company,”

Others reasons, he added, is to have a strong national identity, “With the new identify,TASHICO clearly identifies us as a Tanzanian company with strong roots in our country unlike the previous name. The new name also shows our commitment to developing Tanzania’s economy and connecting different areas of our country with neighboring countries,”

Increasing competition in the international market is the other target, according to him.

“Based on MSCL’s Strategic Plan to expand the scope of its activities from the Great Lakes region to the deep sea, we believe this new name will make our institution conduct itself in a competitive commercial manner unlike the previous name,” he said.

He insisted: “In addition, this new name has an appeal that will help us open new doors in the international market. This name will help us attract new customers, international partners and investors. we are prepared to enter new markets, including transportation of general cargo, fuel, and other products.”

Together with that, Mr Hamissi added that among the target is the zeal to reflect the broad scope of their activities.

“Unlike the previous name, which did not reflect the core activities of our institution, TASHICO clearly indicates that our institution is exclusively engaged in water transport activities,” he noted.

“These lakes that our ships operates border several countries in East and Central Africa, the investment made by the government to TASHICO in the construction of cargo ships will enable Tanzania to strengthen trade with neighboring countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Burundi, DRC and Malawi, which will expand the market for local products and bring in foreign currency,” according to the Director.

He itemized more foreseen benefits as reduction in transport services in the country.

“For instance, cargo from the port of Dar es Salaam to Uganda by road takes longer than if you use Lake Victoria via Mwanza, for example from the port of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) to Kampala (Uganda) by road is 1,717 kilometers but from Dar es Salaam to Kampala through the LakeVictoria is 1,470 km,”

“It’s the same for cargo going to Kalemie, DRC, it’s easier to cross Lake Tanganyika than to cross the road, either through Tunduma, then Zambia, 1,922 kilometers or through Burundi, 1,877 kilometers. But from Dar es Salaam to Kalemie (DRC) via Kigoma Port is 1,375 Kilometers,” he observed.

The tourism sector will also be touched by the initiative, he mentioned, saying through the investment the government will attract local and foreign tourists who want to travel through these lakes.

“For example, when starting to operate, the MV Liemba which is currently under great repair in Kigoma region will also be used as a tourist attraction which will bring more income to the government and the communities around the lakes,” he informed.

The Director, Mr Hamissi extended gratitude to President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for prioritizing the company,and the sector as a whole.

“I would like to use this opportunity to thank all the stakeholders who have cooperated with us in various ways in our journey so far. Uniquely, we would like to thank the Government of the Sixth Phase under the dynamic leadership of the Honorable President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan for the large investment that continues to be made in our institution.

“The investment that involves the implementation of large development projects is what builds our company’s ability to operate commercially and expand the scope of its operations. without this big investment, this process of changing the name of the Company would not have any meaning and instead it would be like “changing the bottle only when the wine is the same”