IMPROVEMENTS at the port of Dar es Salaam is attracting big shippers, with the port administration receiving the first cargo ship holding 4,000 containers, sailing from China.

Mussa Biboze, the fire and safety manager at the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), said yesterday that the ship’s anchorage is a landmark for the growth of the port’s business operations.

Addressing a press conference at a brief ceremony to receive the large cargo ship operated by EverGreen Line Group, he credited this achievement to the substantial investments and service improvements at the port since the Gulf firm, DP World, started operating the container terminal.

These investments have significantly enhanced operational efficiency, thus attracting large shippers to dock at the port, following the deepening of berthing space and installation of comprehensive security cameras, aside from an increase in the number and type of cranes. 

These upgrades allow for faster loading and unloading of containers, reducing the amount of time ships spend at the port, he said, highlighting that the last time EverGreen Line Group used Dar es Salaam port was over a decade ago. 

Its increasingly large ships can now use the port following improvements made by DP World and Adani International Ports Holding Co., an Indian investment group.

"I must acknowledge that these companies managing the terminals have greatly enhanced productivity for the government, boosted revenue, and expanded the number of customers using the port," he remarked.

TPA and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) get more revenues with large ships anchoring, while creating more job opportunities for truck drivers needed to transport the goods unloaded from the containers.

Mohamed Lotfy, the shipping firm’s local branch manager, said that the firm previously used smaller vessels to bring goods to the port, but with service improvements at the port, they can also use the port with larger ships.

Service improvements at the port gave the firm the confidence to bring the large vessel, holding up to 4,000 containers, he said, elaborating that the firm expects the ship to dock once per month. Later it will make two trips per month to bring in even more goods, he declared.

Donald Talawa, the Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Ltd, business and relations manager, said that receiving such a large ship was a significant achievement.

"We are ready to receive and serve this new, modern ship, which has come directly from China," he said. "I must admit that the improvements made at the port, including the deepening of the harbour, now allow ships like this to dock."

Fatma Masenene, the Tanzania Shipping Agents Corporation (TASAC) shipping services regulatory manager, said the ship’s arrival is a boon for the government. 

Such anchoring generates revenue, benefits dry port operators and supports small-scale traders like those selling food, drinks and cleaning services, she added.