Tanzania Ports Authority

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is a parastatal public corporation acting under the aegis of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, that has the responsibility "to manage and operate" the seaports and lake ports of the country of Tanzania.^[1]^[2] The TPA is located in Dar es Salaam. It is a member of the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa.

Indian Ocean ports

The TPA's main Indian Ocean ports are Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, and Tanga; minor seaports serving coastal traffic include Lindi, Kilwa Masoko, Mafia Island, Bagamoyo, Pangani and Kwale. The Port of Zanzibar is administered separately by the Zanzibar Port Corporation.^[3]

Port of Dar es Salaam

A ship leaves the Port of Dar es Salaam

The principal port of Tanzania is Dar es Salaam, which handles 95% of the country's international sea trade. most of the ports cargo handling and clearance depends on labor extensively. The port is divided into two parts (TICTS and TPA), in order to increase efficiency and encourage new challenges to the local port operators the TPA has authorized TICTS privately owned by Hong Kong investors to receive and clear cargo at the port.

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is a parastatal organization acting under the aegis of the Ministry of Transportation established on 15 April 2005 following the repeal of THA Act No. 12/77 and enactment of TPA Act No. 17/2004. The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) presently owns the following ports:Three main sea ports (i.e. Dar es salaam, Tanga and Mtwara Ports),Three small sea ports (i.e. Kilwa, Lindi and Mafia) and All lake ports:

• Lake Victoria port (Mwanza, Bukoba, Musoma, Kemondo Bay and Nansio ports) • Lake Tanganyika port (Kigoma and Kasanga ports) • Lake Nyasa (Itungi, Mbamba Bay, Liuli and Manda ports)

Lately due to the increased number of import and export containers TPA has introduces several Internal Container Depots (ICD). Namely AMI ICD, AZAM ICD,DICD, AL-HUSHOOM,PMM and others.The major means of transport at the Dar es Salaam Port is road. Transportation of imports and exports highly depends on private road transporters. Some of these transporters are Swift motors, Trans cargo, Madina transport and lately up coming transporters such as R.J. Motichand trans, Koru freight and others.

TPA plays the following roles to the Tanzanian government and local authorities:

• To establish and coordinate system of Harbours. • To provide facilities relating to Harbours and provide harbour services. • With the approval of the Minister, to construct and operate new Harbours. • To construct, operate and maintain beacons and other navigational aids. • To carry on the business of stevedore, wharf age or lighter man. • To act as a warehouseman to store goods, whether or not the goods have been or are to be, handled as cargo or carried by the Authority. • To consign goods on behalf of the other persons to any place either within or outside the United Republic • With the approval of the Minister, to act as carriers of goods or passengers by land or sea, and • To provide amenities or facilities that the Authority considers necessary or desirable for persons making use of the facilities or services.

Recently through the Ministry of Transport have been focusing more in improving the Port Operations and Management to ensure the services are provided within time and in the most efficient ways. The Government have been looking on different alternatives on trying to revive the central railway system which will be among the biggest achievement. The effort is aiming at connecting the ports with the borders of the land locked countries which are highly depending to the port of Dar es Salaam for handling their cargo in order to increase efficiency at the port and to reach their customers easily.

This port has recently improved in terms of technology and IT support. It has also launched their online website offering tracking system for clearing agents and importers,careers support by offering various certificates and diplomas regarding the port handling and clearance.

^[4]

Port of Tanga

Main article: Port of Tanga

Port of Mtwara

The harbor at the Port of Mtwara was deepened during 1948-1954, and railways built, as part of the Tanganyika groundnut scheme. The port was functional but underutilized,^[5] until years 2010-2011 when oil and gas exploration activity caused a surge on operations.^[6]

Lake Ports

Tanzania Ports Authority operates on three Tanzanian lakes:^[7]^[8]^[9]

Ports of Lake Victoria

Major TPA ports on Lake Victoria include Mwanza, Bukoba, Kemondo Bay, Musoma and Nansio. There is a TPA office in Mwanza. There are 20 other Lake Victoria ports with minor activity.

Ports of Lake Tanganyika

Principal lake ports on Tanganyika include Kigoma and Kasanga, with an office in Kigoma; there are 15 smaller ports.

Ports of Lake Nyasa

Lake Nyasa/Lake Malawi has four important ports, at Itungi, Mbamba Bay, Liuli and Manda; there is a Kyela District office. There are up to 10 other smaller TPA ports on the lake.