Port Overview

The Port of Tanga is one of the three (3) main Ports on the coast of the Indian Ocean, under the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA); established in accordance with the Port Law No. 17 of 2004. The TPA is responsible for operating the Ports located in the lakes and development of all Ports in Tanzania to harness the geographical opportunities of the country of Tanzania to serve the neighbouring countries with access to international maritime trade. Tanga Port has a total of 400 Hectares of which 17 Hectares is where the current Port is located, recent improvements made by TPA to the Port of Tanga include strengthen two piers and increasing the length to 450 meters, with a depth of 13 meters (chart datum) these infrastructural improvements have increased the Port of Tanga currently cargo handling capacity to handle up to 3,000,000 tons per year.

The port has a rail siding connecting the port to the northern rail corridor which stretches from Dar es Salaam to Arusha and connects to the central rail corridor providing rail access to the ports Kigoma on lake Tanganyika and Mwanza on lake Victoria.  

The improvements to the port infrastructure, good rail and road transport links to the hinterland and the low volume of maritime traffic provide a good alternative to avoid waiting time at Dar es Salaam port for importation to Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC.

Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com

Port Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

The port of Tanga has several companies shipping companies, clearing and forwarding companies and transportation companies they include Diamond Shipping Service Ltd, Inchcape Shipping Service (T) Limited, Nyota Tanzania Limited (Maersk) CMA CGM (T) Limited, and Sturrock Flex Shipping Company Limited, these companies provide logistics services at the Port. These companies play a crucial role as significant customers of the port, actively supporting and streamlining freight operations. Most of these companies have their offices situated within the TPA house, which is located within the port premises.

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.

Port Performance

The port of Tanga has a modern quay wall with total length of 450 meters covering berths one and two. Currently there are two offshore pipelines with 12 inches are used for handling Liquid bulk (oil products). Also, at the Totten Island there is Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) for handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by means of flexible hoses connected to submarine pipelines. Tanga Port is equipped with Harbour Mobile cranes with lifting capacity of 63 tons each, Tugboats, Cargo barges – each with capacity of 3,500 tons, Cargo Lighter with capacity of 600 tons, Pontoons for cargo transfer, Empty Container Handler – 12 tons capacity, Reach stackers for handling of full container with a capacity of 40 tons, Terminal tractor for longitudinal transfer of cargo, Forklifts with bale clamp attachment for handling of sisal fibres, 4 Standard Forklifts each with a capacity of 3,5, 16 and 25 tons, Terminal Tractors and Trailers, Fire Tender trucks equipped with firefighting equipment, Mooring Boat, Weighbridge for weighing cargo, Hoppers and Grabs for handling of bulk cargo.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

https://www.ports.go.tz/images/Reports/Tarrifbook/TPA-Tariff-Book_pub.pdf

Berthing Specifications

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

TPA has invested in new port handling equipment in 2023 including 5 new mobile cranes, a new Transtainer crane/rubber-tyred gantry crane, new reach stackers and forklifts trucks.

Container Facilities

Tanga port has 50 connection points for reefer containers, ample space beside the rail siding for storing standard shipping containers, with the addition of a new rubber-tyred gantry crane for loading trucks and rail carriages and good transport infrastructure from the port providing ease of access to the hinterland.

Customs Guidance

The volumes of cargo at the port are not high which also allows quick custom clearance completion. The customs offices are located nearby the port areas at TPA House operating at 24/7. The customs clearance process is done electronically through TANCIS. See link for process flow map of Customs clearance procedure at Tanga Port

https://www.ports.go.tz/index.php/en/customer-center/import-process

For more information on customs, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Terminal Information

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL

The port has unused multipurpose Jetty, 12 anchorage berths and a lighterage quay of 3.8-meter draught for local craft. There are no available RoRo facilities exist at the port.

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING

N/A

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL

There are 3 sheds of 13,279.67 m2 with open conventional yard with paved area of 29,000m2 and stacking space for 4,300 TEUs.

Stevedoring

Stevedoring activities are provided by the port authority on a 24-hour basis.

Hinterland Information

The port of Tanga is connected to the Hinterland with good road and Rail access, the rail siding in the port area provides direct access to the Northern rail corridor to Kilimanjaro and Arusha and also links to the central Rail corridor in Dar es Salaam. The road network provides good access across northern Tanzania and into Kenya through three major one stop border posts.

Port Security

Port security at Tanga port is good, the port is fenced, and access is monitored, all visitors are recorded, badged and provided with Hi-Viz on entry. The gate to the port is manned 24/7, the port is patrolled by security personnel.