TASHICO Set To Construct 324bn/- Worth Shipping Yard In Kigoma Region -

With the capacity to harbor ships with at least 5000 tons, apart from building and serving home vessels, the establishment will play notable role to repair ships from neighbouring countries.

DODOMA. THE Tanzania Shipping Company Limited (TASHICO) has embarked on preliminary works for the construction of a major shipping yard at Katabe Bay in Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma region.

To gobble up to over 324bn/- upon completion, the envisaged facility is expected to play pivotal role to place Tanzania at the helm of vessels building sector within East and Central Africa.

With the capacity to harbor ships with at least 5000 tons, apart from building and serving home vessels, the establishment will play notable role to repair ships from neighbouring countries.

Giving an exclusive interview to The Guardian yesterday at the ongoing National Service Week, TASHICO’s Managing Director (MD), Mr Eric Hamissi informed that contract for the erection of the vital marine factory was signed since 2023 between TASHICO and MM/S Dearsan Shipyard.

He noted, the Turkiye – based company, MM/S Dearsan Shipyard, is expecting to start implementing the project from earlier next month.

“Currently, some key works are taking shape at the area as part of preparedness for the effective erection of the facility, these include, expansion and installation of a 0.9 km stretch of tarmac road, whereby the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) is constructing the infrastructure from Buteko to Katabe,” he said.

Moreover, the MD expressed that the work go in tandem with installation of electricity and water infrastructures at the area.

“The coming shipping yard, will have a vast dock, enough to enable professional building of ships and at a fast pace,” he stated.

He said the state- owned shipping company was working teeth and nail to ensure for professional metamorphosis of the marine service transport services across the country’s great lakes.

He hailed President Samia Suluhu Hassan for rolling out key support towards enabling TASHICO to accomplish it vital services and varied projects with an eye to elevate performance of the sector.

Ha said, during the 2025/26 fiscal year, the government injected the company with at least 171bn/-

Detailing some of achievements that the entity has so far achieved, he said in Lake Tanganyika several vessels have received major repairs.

“The repairs in question impacted MV Liemba, Roro wagon ferry MT Sangara and MV Mwongozo,” he expressed.

Mr Hamissi said in Lake Victoria, several ships were also refurbished, including the tug board of MV Ukerewe, MV Nyangumi, and Umoja, whereby construction of MV Mwanza has nearly completed.

“We have also signed a vital contract for the construction of a 3000 tons cargo vessel at Lake Victoria, whereby building of the vessel will commence in a near future,” he briefed.

Adding his voice to the impressive development, chairman for TASHICO’s board of directors, Retired Major General John Mbungo said several interventions are afoot to further develop Tanzania’s marine sector.

“For instance, we have entered into useful contract with the Dar es Salaam Merchant Group (DMG) for conduction of thorough research on how best we can place a major vessel at Indian Ocean,” he said.

Through the development, he noted, the target is to understand what kind of vessel, and in which part of India Ocean is best for the vessel to sail, according to him.

“We’re working to provide a leading , dependable, reliable, predictable, safe and security conscious business, in order to serve our customers well in lakes season, and oceans,” he assured.

TASHICO is a government – owned entity based in Mwanza, Tanzania , specializing in marine transport services across the Grate Lakes, including Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa.