[2007-07-31]  Tanzania Ports Authority to raise container handling capacity
The Tanzania Ports Authority (PTA) will need to work harder to accommodate the container handling capacity of the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS).

Last year, to complement the capacity of the container handler, TPA gave TICTS berth number 8, but now with the annual growth of handling capacity estimated to be at 15 per cent, the use of the new berth will not solve the problem.

The chief executive officer of TICTS, D.J Cotty, said recently that since 2004, the company has known that the present container terminal will be unable to handle future container volumes.

“The existing terminal, including berth 8, will only be able to handle between 450,000 and 650,000 teu,” he said, adding that this will depend on important factors such as dwell times.

Container handling capacity is rising tremendously at TICTS. Annual growth before the firm was hired to operate the terminal was 4 per cent, but it shot up to 15 per cent after concessioning.

This year, the facility expects to handle about 341,000 teu, but this will rise to 525,000 teu by 2010.

Alterations made to accommodate the growing market demand include the acquisition of berth 8, modernisation of gate area number 5, relocation of infrastructure and utilisation of Ubungo Inland Depot.

Mr Cotty said TICTS is spending $13 million for civil works, which includes demolishing of sheds, refurbishment of the Ubungo Inland Depot, new fenders and crane rails. The company will also purchase various container handling equipment worth $60 million.

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has allocated Tsh41 billion ($32.8 million) for development of TPA’s infrastructure and facilities during the 2007/08 financial years. The ministry’s deputy minister, Dr Maua Daftari, said some Tsh7.2 billion ($5.8 million) will be spent on rehabilitation and construction of new jetties.

Development and upgrading of port facilities will be undertaken in tandem with improvement of the inland transport network, the most critical one being the Central Railway line, which has already been concessioned to RITES of India.

Last year, the Tanzania Railway Corporation’s capacity to handle cargo dropped from 185,039 tonnes to 132,720 tonnes. The Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (Tazara) handled 75,012 tones, up from 47,586 tonnes during the same period.

Road infrastructure accounts for most of the cargo from the harbour — with total cargo transported amounting to 2,069,234 tonnes.


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