Second container terminal at the Dar Es Salaam port to start operations early 2011
The US$450 million second container terminal project at the Dar es Salaam port expected to commence operations early next year will make the port one of the most efficient in the country in handling a variety of consignments, AllAfrica reported.
The Tanzania Ports Authority Director Genera, Ephraim Mgawe said the move intends to relieve the present terminal from the increased number of consignments every year.
"Since 2004, cargo has been increasing at a rate of 15 percent but the space has not been increasing at the same pace," he said.
"We have managed to lower the number of days of unloading ships from between 19 and 22 to between 11 and 12 days. This is a great achievement," Mgawe said.
He said with the new container terminal to be erected at the Kurasini area, the port may further lower the days of unloading the ships to five days only.
The capacity of the new terminal will be twice as much as the present terminal and will have space to accommodate 600,000 containers at a time.
The current terminal has the ability to handle between 250,000 and 310,000 containers hence sometimes making it difficult to end completely the problem of congestions.
The Tanzania Ports Authority Director Genera, Ephraim Mgawe said the move intends to relieve the present terminal from the increased number of consignments every year.
"Since 2004, cargo has been increasing at a rate of 15 percent but the space has not been increasing at the same pace," he said.
"We have managed to lower the number of days of unloading ships from between 19 and 22 to between 11 and 12 days. This is a great achievement," Mgawe said.
He said with the new container terminal to be erected at the Kurasini area, the port may further lower the days of unloading the ships to five days only.
The capacity of the new terminal will be twice as much as the present terminal and will have space to accommodate 600,000 containers at a time.
The current terminal has the ability to handle between 250,000 and 310,000 containers hence sometimes making it difficult to end completely the problem of congestions.