- Port Overview
- Port Picture
- Description and Contacts of Key Companies
- Port Performance
- Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
- Berthing Specifications
- General Cargo Handling Berths
- Port Handling Equipment
- Container Facilities
- Customs Guidance
- Terminal Information
- Stevedoring
- Hinterland Information
- Port Security
Port Overview
The Port of Kigoma is located on Lake Tanganyika in the West of Tanzania, and borders Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Burundi. The Port of Kigoma is a gateway for traffic flow originating from Tanzania and/or the Port of Dar es Salaam. Cargo may be road-hauled or railed from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, then transshipped onto lake vessels to the port of Mpulung (Zambia), various destinations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Uvira, Kalemie, Baraka, Moba),, and the Port of Bujumbura in Burundi.
Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com
Port Location and Contact |
|
---|---|
Country |
Tanzania |
Province or District |
Kigoma |
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port |
Kigoma (8 km) |
Port's Complete Name |
The Port of Kigoma |
Latitude |
-4.877354 |
Longitude |
29.624542 |
Managing Company or Port Authority |
TPA |
Management Contact Person |
Ag. Port Manager Yudas Sabigoro Mobile: +255 756739130 Tel: +255 282802275 |
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures |
Kigoma Airport The Airport is at national level thus it has no frequent International Arrivals/Departures. |
Port Picture
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
There are different companies operating port activities at Kigoma. The main marine service companies are Marine Service Company Limited (MSCL), SNCC, ARNOLAC and FALCONY operating at the port through Lake Tanganyika (See ANNEX). Also, the company Usafirishaji Afrika is offering stevedoring services within the port while the SUMA JKT Company is offering security service at the port.
For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.
Port Performance
Lake Tanganyika is one of the deepest lakes in the world; the deepest point of the lake is 1,436 meters. The draft ranges from 2.5 to 4.5 meters. Currently, the port is not congested but there are some circumstances that can cause certain delays, such as political crisis on the other side of the lake specifically to port of Uvira and Baraka in DRC. This crisis context limits the outflow of the cargo since the port has small storage capacity. At Kigoma port, the priority is given to the humanitarian cargo.
The major port’s limitations/bottlenecks are classified into internal limitations and external limitations.
Internal limitations:
- there is insufficient storage area for both open and closed storage. However, a new warehouse is being constructed at the port;
- port’s infrastructure is old. For example, there is a 2000 MT capacity storage building which is not used because of its obsolescence.
- railway sidings are in poor condition.
External limitations:
- Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) encounters problem to offer a regular service to transport cargo in/out of the port despite that more than 70% of cargo handled at the port is brought by TRC;
- regional context can affect port operations, such as the political instabilities to other neighbor countries like DRC and Burundi.
- Slow offloading capacity at the destination ports of DRC, Burundi and Zambia can also cause congestion and backlog at Kigoma port
Seasonal Constraints |
||
---|---|---|
Occurs |
Time Frame |
|
Rainy Season |
Yes |
From October to March |
Major Import Campaigns |
No |
N/A |
Other Comments |
There is another expected constraint of decreasing of the volume of the lake, because of presence of outlet channel which is known as river Malagarasi. |
Handling Figures for July 2016 to June 2017 |
|
---|---|
Vessel Calls |
307 Vessels – 149.39 GRT |
Container Traffic (TEUs) |
36 TEUs – 334 tons |
Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for July 2016 to June 2017 |
|
---|---|
Bulk (MT) |
N/A |
Break bulk (MT) |
54,820 |
Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: Port of Kigoma Tariff Book.
Berthing Specifications
Type of Berth |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Maximum Draft (m) |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conventional Berth |
1 |
200 |
4 to 4.5 |
Full utilized |
Container Berth |
1 |
100 |
4 to 4.5 |
Not used frequently |
Silo Berth |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Berthing Tugs |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Water Barges |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Container berth have Rail mounted gantry (RMG) which have 35 tons capacity.
General Cargo Handling Berths
Cargo Type |
Berth Identification |
---|---|
Imports - Bagged Cargo |
Passenger and general cargo berth |
Exports - Bagged Cargo |
General cargo berth – Kibilizi dhow terminal |
Imports and Exports – RoRo |
N/A |
Other Imports |
|
Port Handling Equipment
Port equipment are managed by the government through the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).
Equipment |
Available |
Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
---|---|---|---|
Dockside Crane |
Yes |
There are 3 dockside cranes. 2 of them are 3 MT 1 is a 30 MT. |
2 Dockside cranes of 3 tons are old but are functional. 1 Dockside crane of 30 tons capacity is new. |
Container Gantries |
Yes |
There is 1 RAM of 35 tons. |
It is an old one but currently is well improved. |
Mobile Cranes |
Yes |
There is 1 groove of 25 tons. |
Cargo runner has been destroyed thus the crane is not used. |
Reachstacker |
No |
||
RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) |
No |
||
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines |
No |
||
Transtainer |
No |
||
Forklifts |
Yes |
Total 5 Forklifts. 4 are of 3 tons, 1 is of 5 tons |
4 Forklifts of 3 tons are designed in a modern technology. One of the 5 ton-capacity cranes is old, but all 5 forklifts are functional. |
Container Facilities
Container facilities at Kigoma port are rail mounted gantry (RMG), terminal tractor (TT) and yard which is open for stacking of containers.
Facilities |
20 and 40 ft |
---|---|
Container Facilities Available |
Yes |
Container Freight Station (CFS) |
No |
Refrigerated Container Stations |
No |
Other Capacity Details |
No |
Daily Take Off Capacity |
No |
Number of Reefer Stations |
No |
Emergency Take-off Capacity |
N/A |
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift |
N/A |
Dockside crane – 30tons
Rail Mounted Gantry (RAM) – 35tons
Groove – 25tons
Forklift – 3tons
Dockside crane – 3tons
Customs Guidance
Customs activities at the port entail the regulation of importation and exportation of goods at the port. The port management work with customs officials through the tracking integrated system TANCIS. Currently, customs clearance activities are completed within the short period of time if the required documents are submitted accordingly.
Customs offices are located within the port and operate for consecutive 12 hours, during day time. Usual documents are required for the custom clearance: invoice, packing list, permits, authorization letter, Bill of lading and the contract signed between the customer and the clearance agent, if any. Note that the goods could be subject to examination upon entering country and also the certificate of origin can be required if the goods are from the country within the same regional integration such members countries of SADIC so as to get reduction of taxes.
For more information on customs in Tanzania, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.
Terminal Information
Multipurpose Terminal
The port of Kigoma has a terminal for loading and off-loading general cargo, a container berth and a conventional berth. It has no RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) facilities.
Grain and Bulk Handling
There is no grain and bulk handling facilities at the port since grains like maize are handled in break bulk bags by stevedores and cranes on pallets.
Main Storage Terminal
The port has one main storage facility (closed storage facility) which is currently used. There is another closed storage facility building which is not used due to its poor condition. There is an area of 12,200 MT available for open storage.
Storage Type |
Number of Storage Facilities |
Area (MT) |
---|---|---|
Bagged Cargo |
There are 2 bagged cargo storage areas but only one is used. |
12,200 |
Refrigerated Cargo |
N/A |
|
General Cargo |
There are 2 general cargo storage areas but only one is used. |
12,200 |
Stevedoring
The main stevedoring activities in Dar es Salaam port are to discharge and load general cargoes from/to the vessels. Stevedoring activities at port are organized and provided by private entity known as Usafirishaji Africa. The stevedore services depend on the nature and the amount of handled cargo. Usafirishaji Africa has more than 100 stevedores to supply to the port for handling cargo.
Wages and incentives for stevedores is administered by the company in collaboration with the port management.
Hinterland Information
Items are moved out of the port by various modes of transport, such as road and railway transport which are used to move items out from the port to other areas within the country. Trucks companies are available to move the cargo, such as Ibhitungwa Transport Company (30 tons), Saratoga Transport Company (30 tons), Marine Service Transport (more than 200 tons). For rail transport, TRL is the only option (more than 500 tons capacity).
Port Security
Security of stocks and facilities at port is provided by Government agency known as SUMA JKT, which provides adequate personnel for ensuring security at the port.
Security of stock and facilities at port is managed by personnel only, without using advanced tools like metal detectors and others security equipment. Tanzania Port Authority recognized the weaknesses in safety and security at the port and they plan to implement improvement measures. It is a 5-year plan which should start to be implementing over the next month. The port management expects to have zero accident and safety incidents within the port after the implementation of safety and security improvement.
Security |
|
---|---|
ISPS Compliant |
No |
Current ISPS Level |
N/A |
Police Boats |
Yes, available 24 hours. |
Fire Engines |
Yes, available 24 hours. |