Around fifty-five percent work has been completed on Mtwara port project in Tanzania. The new berth and the cargo yard at Mtwara port is on track and the new cargo terminal is expected to be completed by March 2020.
The new berth with a length of 300 mtr and 13.5 mtr depth (draft) will have the capacity to accommodate mega cargo ships weighing 65,000 tonne. Currently, the port accommodates cargo ships with 40,000 tonne (Dead Weight-DWT).
All the necessary state-of-the art cargo handling equipment, including modern mobile cranes and other heavy lifting machines, will be availed at the port upon completion. The construction of the new multipurpose terminal is being implemented through a joint venture (JV) of two Chinese firms -- China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) and China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group (CRMBEG) at the tune of USD 59 million.
The modern multipurpose cargo terminal will be capable of delivering quality services to the southern regions (Lindi, Mtwara and Ruvuma), but with specific focus on serving neighbouring countries in the southern African region – Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.
The government intends to have four berths for Mtwara Port. The old berth measures 380 mtr in length while its yard has the size of 40,000 sq mtr. The second yard, currently under construction, measures 79,000 sq mtr. Upon completion, the port will increase its cargo handling capacity from 4,00,000 tpa to 10,00,000 tpa.