President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced that the expansion of Tanga Port is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing Tanzania’s ability to accommodate larger ships, increase vessel traffic, and significantly boost cargo handling capabilities. The upgrades have already resulted in over a 100% increase in both ship arrivals and port revenue.
“This project is already yielding positive results with substantial operational growth,” President Samia noted on her official X handle. She emphasized the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure nationwide to ensure Tanzania maximizes its natural resource benefits.
Donald Gaile, the Acting Manager of Tanga Port, explained that the expansion project is being implemented in two phases. The first phase, costing 172.136 billion Tanzanian Shillings, focused on dredging the entrance channel and berth to allow access for larger vessels.
Mr. Gaile highlighted that Tanga Port, established in 1891 during the era of German East Africa, has historically faced challenges, with ships previously anchoring two kilometers away due to shallow docking areas. The enhancements now enable ships to dock directly at the pier, eliminating previous additional costs incurred from offloading cargo away from the pier.
The project is anticipated to create jobs for local residents and increase revenue for the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA). The second phase involves the construction of new 450-meter-long berths at a projected cost of 256.8 billion shillings.
Since the improvements, Tanga Port has welcomed around 19 large vessels from various countries, carrying over 100,000 tonnes of cargo. Gaile noted that the significant upgrades have attracted modern ships, which previously preferred competing ports in neighboring countries.
As one of three major ports managed by TPA along the Indian Ocean Corridor, Tanga Port’s recent performance has been impressive. During the first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, TPA reported a revenue collection of 18 billion shillings, primarily due to the arrival of 11 ships. Notably, 44.4% of this revenue was generated from vessels belonging to Sea Front Shipping Services Company, highlighting their key role in the port’s operations.
In total, Tanga Port handled approximately 333,718 tonnes of cargo during the review period, surpassing its target of 283,290 tonnes by 17%.