The country has three major ocean ports. Dar es Salaam is the Tanzania's main port, receiving around 95% of all Tanzania's export and import volumes. Tanzania is a regional gateway to supply its neighbouring landlocked countries, such as Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, the DRC and Burundi.

Tanzania has a total of 17 dry ports, reflecting the country's importance as a trade corridor. Its inland waterways are part of this strategic corridor. The country has three lakes which link Tanzania with its neighbouring countries: Lake Victoria (Northern border), Lake Tanganyika (South-Western border), and Lake Nyasa (Southern border).

Lake Victoria has an important role in sub-regional trade, with ferries carrying rail wagons and vehicles between Uganda and Tanzania. Lake Tanganyika allows commercial traffic between Kigoma (near DRC), Bujumbura (Burundi) and Zambia. (Tanzania Logistics Risks Report, 2016) Finally, the lake Nyasa has few transport operations from Tanzania.

There have been significant improvements at Mwanza Port in streamlining the Dar es Salaam and Uganda Corridor, hence facilitating the trade between Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan.. Transportation from Dar es Salaam to Uganda has shifted from truck to rail leading to time and cost savings due to opening of the Victoria Rail Ferry in July 2018. Via Mwanza Port, the cargo takes 4 to 5 days from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

For more information on waterway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.

The table below presents the companies operating passenger vessels in Tanzania. Azam Marine operates the sea ferries linking Zanzibar to the continent while the three other ones are operating passenger vessel in the lakes. For the Lake Victoria, MSCL is the only company that operates vessels (passengers and cargo). On the Lake Taganyika, MSCL, Anorlac, SNCC and Falcony are the main operators. Finally, no Tanzanian company has currently vessels in operation on Lake Nyasa.

Lake Victoria

The Port of Mwanza is the largest and busiest of Tanzania’s lake ports. It has long been a major rail-and-ferry transit point for Cargo moving between Dar es Salaam and Port Bell in Uganda

Mwanza North Port consists of a passenger terminal with an annual handling capacity of about 150,000 passengers and 20,000 tonnes of mainly personal effects. The North Pier has no shoreside cargo handling facilities, so loading and unloading of cargo is by ship’s gear and stevedores

Mwanza South Port takes the form of a cargo terminal with an annual handling capacity of about 500,000 tonnes. It handles transit and locally sourced traffic moving to and from Uganda ((TPA  Handbook 2019-2020)

In 2018, the government signed contracts for construction of a new and bigger ship and a slipway as well as renovation of vessels currently plying Lake Victoria in projects that were contributed to making Mwanza, a regional trade and transportation hub.

The projects included the construction of new passenger ship with capacity to accommodate 1,200 passengers and 400 tonnes of cargo. Rehabilitation of MV Victoria at the  and MV Butiama, which stopped operations since 2014.

Marine Services Company Limited (MSCL) is the only company operating vessels on the Lake Victoria. Its fleet includes ferry, cargo, tanker and passenger vessels.

HQ staff will input a link to Annex: 2.1.3.1 Annex Mwanza_Shipping_Companies.

Travel Time Matrix

Key Routes

Port Information 

Lake Tanganyika

On Lake Tanganyika, the busiest port is Kigoma, which is linked by ferry to other lake ports in the Democtaric Republic of Congo, Burundi and Zambia. A program of upgrading and rehabilitation is underway at kigoma where the construction of the Kagunga jetty is now completed.

The port handles mainly bagged cargo, which is loaded manually using labour to carry the bags from quay to ship. There is covered storage for up to 45,000 tonnes of cargo in the port area and next to the quay and 75,000 tonnes of open storage including space for vehicles. (TPA Handbook 2019- 2020)

Different companies operate vessels on Tanganyika Lake. The main ones are Anorlac, SNCC and Falcony. The fleet is old and needs rehabilitation work to operate at optimal capacity. Both passengers and cargo vessels are operating on the lake.

HQ staff will input a link to Annex: 2.1.4 Annex 1 Kigoma_Shipping_Companies.

Travel Time Matrix

Key Routes

Lake Nyasa

On Lake Nyasa, ferry services to Malawi have been operating from a temporary port at Kiwira, 5 km south of Itungi. There are plans to revitalise the existing quay and buildings at Itungi and to dredge the harbour. Also on Lake Nyasa, the Port of Kyela continues to handle cargo, but the ferry terminal is not in use due to silting of the harbour. Two barges have been constructed at Kyela.

Mbamba Bay is set to become the main Tanzanian port on Lake Nyasa. It features prominently in the Southern Corridor development plan to link the Tanzanian seaport of Mtwara with Malawi and other hinterland states. (TPA Handbook 2019-2020)