INTRODUCTION:
The Port of Tanga undoubtedly became known to the outside world in the century. The word “Tanga” means sail. By 13th century Tanga was one of the flowrishing trading port with traffic from Asia and Arabia.
Tanga Port is situated in the Northern coast of Tanzania, close to the Kenya border. It is a terminal of the Tanzania Railways Corporation northern system, which is linked to the central line by Ruvu Mnyusi line, a straight connection to the Great Lakes limits to the mainland.
The port serves the northern corridor of Tanzania particularly Moshi and Arusha Regions famous for coffee growing. It covers a distance of 354 km northern to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania City). The harbour is a lighterage port where ships are worked in stream buoys by means of lighters and pontoons for loading and offloading cargo. The Port has two shallow water berths built in 1914 and 1954 with draft of 2.55 metres at low tide, which can only enable small vessel and pontoons to operate safely.

LOCATION OF THE PORT
Tanga port is situated on the northern coast of Tanzania. Close to the Kenyan border. Port limits extend from Lat 05degree00 5.8 long 039 degree 09.5’E to the meridian of Long 39 degree 15’E, thence 180degree to the parallel of Lat 05’S, and thence 270 degree to the mainland.

ANCHORAGES
The port has a harbour, which offers a safe anchorage for ocean going vessels up to 213 metres. An outer harbour has three anchorages for vessels up to 9.45m draught. Lighterage is performed 24 hrs using tugs, lighters and pontoons. The port also has 2 lighterage wharves for small vessels of up to 3.5m draft with a total length of 381 metres and nine (9) handling points.

PORT CHANNEL
Port access from the Indian Ocean is via once main 6km long, deep-water natural channel that follows the course of a river to the port. The channel has not been dredged for some considerable time and so deep-sea ships and coasters have to anchor in the river channel.

BEATHING:
Tanga Port consists of a multi-purpose jetty, 12 anchorage berths and a Quay for lighterage and local shipping of 3.8m draft. The max draft permissible alongside the jetty is 11.0m. However the jetty is now no longer use. The twelve anchorage ranges from 5.0m to 12.5m draft. The tanker berth has a max. draft of 3.5 and uses a submarine pipeline to discharge fuel oil at a Quay berth.

NAVIGATION:
Pilotage is compulsory for all deep-sea vessels and is permitted during daylight hours. Communication is through VHF channel 16, 11 and 12. The latter 2 channels are used for stevedoring operations. Charts in use area BA 866.669 3310 and Admiralty Pilot NP3

STEVEDOORING:
The Port provides stevedoring services to all geared vessels twenty four hours a day with night ship on request. The shift performance on general cargo is 170 tons per gang per shift and 56 TEUS on containerized cargo per gang/shift.

LIGHTERAGE:
Three tugs and 18 barges (10 lighters and 8 pontoons) provided lighterage services between anchorage’s and lighter Quay twenty-four hours a day.

CRANNAGE
Facilities include 40 tons Tower Crane, one 120 tons Port crane and 5 portal cranes of 5 tons each.

SHORE HANDLING:
Include 1.40 tons SISU Reach Stacker. 1.40 tons SISU Reach Stacker; 1.40 tons PGS Front Loader, 1 Jones Mobile Crane. 2: Grover Mobile Cranes. Tractors Trailers and several Lift Trucks.

STORAGE:
Storage space comprises of Nine (9) transit sheds with total storage of about 24,000m²   and Container stacking yard of about 17,000m²

^{LAND FOR EXPANSION:}                                                                                                            TPA has acquired land of about 92.8 hectors at Mwambani area which is currently not unutilized. The land is ideal for future expansion especially for EPZ activities.

GENERAL
Other facilities include refrigerated container services, fresh water provision ship chandelling, fire-fighting services, medical services, medical service in town and etc.

SHIPPING LINES:
The Port annually handles about 50 liner ships, 40 coasters, 25 coastal tankers and 75 passenger vessels. The East African Conference lines comprising of Mediterranean Shipping, HARRISON, ELLERMAN, DSR, KNSL, P & OOCL and MOSK lines make fortnightly calls with 2 container ships (P & O) NEDLLOYD lines make fortnightly calls with three container ships K & K agency has two coasters calling monthly to freight cement to southern ports of Tanzania. MEGA SPEED LINERS make weekly call to ferry passengers between Tanga and Pemba. MAERSK line has shown interest to call in Tanga.

TONNAGE
Annual traffic totals 194,000 tons including 66,000 tons of imports and 129,000 tons of exports. This includes 6,5000 TEUS in container traffic, Bulk, liquid bulk and break bulk cargo. More than 90% of annual traffic is moved by road and the remainder by rail.

PORT STRATEGIES:
The Port mission is to promote national and International trade worldwide by:

1. Having direct relation with port users and meet their demands.

2. Providing directly range of services which enables customers to import or export.

3. Close negotiations on concessenary rates.

4. Providing efficient operations performance to shipping and cargo.

5. Providing effective means of communication to customers.

6. Commercialization of Port activities in future to competitive trade.

7. Providing conducive environment for privatization
   
    

TRANSIT TRAFIC
Management is vying to open its port to transit traffic especially to neighboring countries as current conditions are very favourable. With congestion at Mombasa, uncertain cargo security and poor transport between Nairobi and Mombasa Tanga port offer better services.


PRINCIPAL IMPORT:
Chemicals, machinery motor fuel oil vehicle materials consumer goods and food grains.

PRINCIPAL EXPORTS:
Coffee, seed beans, sisal fibre, sisal twines forest products

PRINCIPAL EXPORTS: To facilitate port activities, the port is equipped with

1.    Heavy 40 tons mobile crane (ITALGRUM)

2. 40 tons PGS

3. 40 tons SISU Reachstacker

4. Shore quay Portal Cranes

5. Forklifts

6. Tractors and trailers

7. 3 Working sheds

8. Shed no 6 serves sisal bales, sisal twines and other general cargo

9. Shed No. 7 capacity (46,692 sq.m. serves import cargo and cement export

10. Slipway

11. Weigh Bridge for Road and Rail

12. Towing Tugs

13. .Pilot Boats

14.   .Labour Brats

15. . Lighters & Pontoons
     

PORT FACILITIES:

1. Modern supplies godowns for storage of port needed items before use

2. Modern workshop for equipments and repairs

3. Dock yard for crafts lighters, and pontoon repair

4. New houses for different classes of workers

5. The Investment Port Manager’s Officer “BANDARI HOUSE” commercial complex with millennium attraction of 142 rooms
   
   SHIPPING TRAFFIC:
   Ship calls at Tanga Port range from 183.262 per annum. Deep-sea and Coasters recorded about 75 ships. Deep-sea ships spent an average of 1.9 days for dry general cargo coaster tankers an average stay is 1.6 to 1.8 days respectively.
   
   PRODUCTIVITY:
   Tanga Port has never experienced congestion mostly due to fast movement of cargo, discipline, and good working relationship and close communication with customers. The port current productivity are:
   i. 170 tons per gang per shift in dry general cargo
   ii. 56 moves/gang/shift for containers
   iii. tons/gang/shift in bulk cargo
   
   TONNAGE
   Annual traffic total 194,000 tons including 66,000 tons of imports and 128,000 tons of exports. This includes 6,500 TEUS in container traffic bulk liquid bulk and break bulk cargo. More than 90% of annual traffic is moved by road and the remainder by rail. Maximum annual handling capacity is 500,000 tons. The shift performance on general cargo is 170 tons per gang and 56 TEUS on containerized cargo per gang.
   
   MARINE SERVICES:
   1.    Pilotage                     USD 8.30 per 100 GRT
   2.    Navigational Dues      USD 4.50 per 100 GRT
   3.    Port Dues                  USD 10.00 per 100 GRT
   4.    Buoyage                   USD 0.20 per 100 GRT
   5.    Lighterage                 USD 1.00 per 100 GRT
   
   Shipping Traffic
   Ship calls at Tanga Port range from 183 – 262 per year
   Deep sea currently recorded 75 ships and 187 on coasters
   Average stay in the Port for deep-sea is 1.9 days
   For Dry general cargo coaster and tackers average is 1.6 – 1.8 days respectively
   
   
   STEVEDORING:
   1.    Stevedoring FCL  USD 100 up to 20 ft
                                   USD 150 over  20 ft
   2.    Stevedoring LCL  USD  170 up to 20 ft
                                   USD  270 over  20 ft
   3.    Steve/Empty       USD    50 up to 20 ft
    

For more datails please contact:

P.O.Box 443

Tel:(255) 53-43078

Fax: (255) 53-42360

Telex: 45000 Harbour TZ

E-mail: pmtanga@tanzaniaports.com