Dar es Salaam Port Step Closer to Capacity Increase

World Bank Tanzania Tanzanias port of Dar es Salaam is set to increase its capacity to 25 million tons over the next seven years as it received a financing approval for the new Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project (DSMGP). Namely, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors granted its approval for a USD 345 million credit and a USD 12 million grant for the gateway project. The investments is expected to improve waiting time to berth from 80 hours to 30 hours as well as overall productivity. Enhancing the operational potential of Dar es Salaam port will boost trade and job creation across the region, and reduce the current cost of USD 200-400 for each additional day of delay for a single consignment, Bella Bird, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania, said. The DSMGP is to be implemented as part of a larger ongoing investment program for the overall development of the port of Dar es Salaam with the support of several development partners. The Government of Tanzania is contributing about USD 63 million through Tanzania Ports Authority, while Trade Mark East Africa is supporting improvements in the spatial and operational efficiency of the port. The United Kingdom through its Department for International Development (DFID) is also contributing a USD 12 million grant. The port of Dar es Salaam currently has 11 berths, with seven of these dedicated to general cargo, including container, dry bulk, break bulk and RoRo operations, and four to container operations. The port handled 13.8 million tons in 2016, up from 13.1 million tons in 2013, and 10.4 million tons in 2011, reflecting an average growth of 9 percent per year over the last five years.