Dar Port Terminal Hit record High Performance on New Equipment

 

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) container terminal handled a monthly record of 61, 450 236 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in June 2022.

This was announced in July 2022 by the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS), the terminal operator. This edged out record productivity in March. The throughput for the month of March 2022 was 61,236 TEU.

Commenting on the achievements, Mr. Matthew Clifft, Acting TICTS CEO said, “We are very proud of our teams who achieved this new record. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate trade and minimize turnaround times. With this in mind, we are striving to ensure that the terminal can achieve these levels of productivity on an ongoing basis.

To improve efficiency at the terminal, TICTS has already invested over Sh12.5 billion in equipment this year and said it is keen to support the government with its long-term vision for the port.

TICTS operates the container terminal at the Port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which handles more than 90 percent of Tanzania’s seaborne trade.

TICTS is a member of Hutchison Ports. Hutchison has a network of terminal operations in 52 ports spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Australia.

The high volume handled in March was a result of a peak season of agricultural exports and strong local and transit demand. This month, TICTS also handled the largest cargo exchange ever in Tanzania on Hapag Lloyd’s MV Mombasa Express with more than 6,600 TEU.

TICTS currently has an ongoing investment program that will see an investment of TS12.5 billion (approximately US$5.4 million) in new equipment including rubber-tired gantry cranes and reach stackers.

 

 “We are very proud of our TICTS team. While this record throughput is excellent news for the country, our team needed to step up to meet this unprecedented demand. Inevitably there were delays, but our shareholders continue to mobilize resources to further optimize operations at the port,” Andy Tsoi, Hutchison Ports Managing Director, Middle East, and Africa said.

TICTS in May 2022 acquired three additional rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) and one reach-stacker in its effort to expedite container handling at the Dar es Salaam Port.

"With continued strong economic growth, we are pleased to receive this additional equipment as it will help us meet the demand of the upcoming peak season,' Clifft said, adding that TICTS' aim was to minimize waiting time and maximize productivity.

Located at Berths 8 through 11, TICTS operates 725 meters at the port with six quay cranes each with a handling capacity of 45 metric tonnes.

With the equipment arrival, the terminal currently has a fleet of 23 RTGCs which work the stacking area of 18.75 hectares.