The Port of Tanga (Bandari ya Tanga in Swahili) is the second largest port in Tanzania. It is located on Tanga Bay in Central ward of Tanga District of Tanga Region. [3]

Tanga Port
A ship anchored in the Tanga Bay
Map
Location of Port of Tanga
Location
CountryTanzania
LocationPort Road, Central, Tanga, Tanga Region
Coordinates5°3′57.6″S 39°6′20″E / 5.066000°S 39.10556°E / -5.066000; 39.10556
UN/LOCODETZTGT[1]
Details
Operated byTanzania Ports Authority
Owned byTanzanian Government
Type of harbourNatural
No. of berths2
Statistics
Vessel arrivalsDecrease86 (2016) [2]
Annual cargo tonnageIncrease 677,000 (2016) [2]
Capacity1,200,000 tons p.a.
Website
www.tanzaniaports.com

History edit

Historically the port city part of the Portuguese and Arab gateway for the slave and ivory trade. In the 1880s, the region fell under German control as part of the Tanganyika Territory. During this period, European influence led to the modernization of the city's facilities, and in 1914, the port itself was established.[4] To support the growing maritime activities, a 240-meter quay wall was constructed in 1918. As a gateway for exports from northern Tanzania, including sisal, coffee, and cotton, the port played a vital role. Its connectivity expanded as the Usambara railway extended westward, linking the port to Moshi by rail. Following World War I, the territory came under British control, and in 1954, the British authorities constructed a second quay wall, measuring 141 meters in length, further enhancing the port's capabilities.[5]

Post Colonial edit

Following Tanzania's Ujamaa policies, which resulted in declining agricultural productivity in the country, the port experienced a decline in its significance. Despite this, it remained the second largest port in Tanzania. To stimulate post activities and generate revenue, the government permitted fuel consignments to be imported through the port of Tanga.

Recognizing the need to relieve strain on the Dar-es-Salaam port, in 2017, the Tanzanian government made the decision to expand the facilities of the Tanga port. This expansion project, initiated over a century after the port's initial development, involved the construction of new walls, dredging work, and the acquisition of new port machinery. These measures successfully increased the port's capacity from handling 700,000 tons per year to 1.2 million tons, thereby enhancing its overall capabilities.[6][7]

Port Facilities edit

The port of Tanga features a contemporary quay wall spanning a total length of 450 meters, encompassing berth one and two. Presently, there are two offshore pipelines, each with a diameter of 12 inches, dedicated to the efficient handling of liquid bulk, specifically oil products. Additionally, at Totten Island, a Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) system through the use of flexible hoses connected to submarine pipelines is in place to facilitate the safe and effective handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).[7]

Operations edit

At present, the port is served by three shipping lines: Delmas, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Inchcape.[8]

Tanzania-Uganda Pipeline edit

On 6 March 2016 Tanzania president John Magufuli and Uganda president Yoweri Museveni agreed to construct the Tanzania-Uganda oil pipeline at the 17th East African Heads of State summit in Arusha .[9] As of 2016, the pipeline was to run for 1,400 km from Lake Albert basin to the port of Tanga. The pipeline was initially agreed to run from Uganda to Kenya to the Lamu Port and Lamu-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor.[10] The pipeline was to cost over $4 billion and to provide 1,500 direct jobs across the region. The three companies with a stake in the project are Total S.A., China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Tullow Oil, who preferred the Tanzanian route due to safety concerns in the Kenyan Northern corridor. The construction was to begin in August 2016 and will take two years to build.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "UNLOCODE (TZ) - TANZANIA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF". service.unece.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). www.ports.go.tz. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Profile: Tanga". Tanzania Ports Authority. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Tanga | Tanzania". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  5. ^ Madenge (2021-10-12). "Tanga - History, Economy, Transport, Tourism,..." UnitedRepublicofTanzania.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  6. ^ "Tanga Port on Verge of Restoring its Pride | Embassy of Tanzania in Tel Aviv, Israel". il.tzembassy.go.tz. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  7. ^ a b "Tanga Port". www.ports.go.tz. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  8. ^ "Rumour Tanga port is losing business denied". The Citizen. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Magufuli's Tanzania wins race for billion-dollar oil pipe as Uganda opts out of deal with Kenya". MG Africa. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  10. ^ "Tanzania's Magufuli pushes for quick start to Uganda oil pipeline as Kenya tries to salvage deal". MG Africa. 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  11. ^ "Tanzania sets date for laying of new pipeline". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2016-03-16.

External links edit