MTWARA Port is set to install a high-tech gantry crane next month to further boost operational efficiency, increase cargo volume and revenues.

Port Manager Ferdinand Nyathi announced over the weekend, during a press briefing, the port’s latest progress.

Nyathi explained that the introduction of a new crane will allow the port to accommodate larger vessels, boosting its capacity to handle increased cargo volumes from the Mtwara Development Corridor.

This upgrade is part of the port's ongoing modernization, which began in 2020 following a renovation costing approximately 157bn/-.

The crane installation is a key component of a broader initiative spurred by President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directives during her visit last September. The President mandated that all cashew exports be routed through Mtwara Port, which is a critical gateway for southern Tanzania, northern Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia.

Nyathi emphasized the port’s commitment to meeting the President’s directives by upgrading its infrastructure and expanding its workforce. He encouraged stakeholders to continue utilizing the port, citing its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

“We are also organizing a stakeholders’ meeting later this month to strategize on optimizing the port for future crop transportation,” he added.

Nyathi further highlighted a significant achievement this season: the port successfully handled 28 ships carrying over 200,000 tonnes of cashews, underscoring its growing role in Tanzania’s export sector.

Looking ahead, the port is poised for further growth, with plans to enhance its capacity for transporting all commercial crops, particularly cashews. Planned upgrades include the installation of new equipment in the 2024/25 fiscal year, as part of the Mtwara Corridor Development Project.

In February, Nyathi announced that 157.8bn/- had been invested in constructing a new 300-metre-long berth, capable of accommodating ships up to 230 metres long. This new berth, with a water depth of 13 metres, is designed to handle bulk carriers of up to 650,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) and includes a 75,807-square-metre yard for storing up to 8,600 twenty-foot containers annually.

Mtwara Port handled 1.629 million metric tonnes of cargo in the 2022/23 fiscal year, a significant increase from 106,170 metric tonnes in the 2018/19 fiscal year. The port’s performance for the 2023/24 fiscal year remains strong, with 1.016 million metric tonnes processed in the first seven months alone.