Tanzania Plans $44m Project to Handle Large Ships

According to reports, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) will undertake a $44 million joint venture project to replace the existing Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility to handle bigger oil vessels and an increased volume of crude oil at the Dar port. The joint venture, which is expected to commence in 2008, will see partners in the investment contribute equity and possibly manage and operate the SPM facility in collecting the revenue. Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) officials, said the proposed facility will have the capacity to handle both bulk and refined liquid products. The TPA expects the new facility to provide increased revenue in addition to improvements in quality of service, safety, efficiency and the capacity to handle bigger vessels.

The current SPM facility, located south of the port, moors tankers up to 120,000 dead weight tonnes (dwt) handling about 300,000 tonnes of crude oil. The TPA project, which has already been sold to the United States and Russian investors for possible joint ventures and funding, involves replacing the existing SPM facility and the related sub-sea pipeline system to support the anticipated increase in volumes of crude oil at the port. It follows the government’s decision to revive the refinery plant.

The expansion will reduce ships’ port staying time and turnaround time, lower freight charges, reduce transit time, increase throughput capacity and ensure high-rating of port safety standards. Source: The EastAfrican