DAR, TANGA PORTS SET TO BOOST EFFICIENCY AS TUG BOATS ARRIVE

DAR ES SALAAM and Tanga ports are set to boost their efficiency after Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) yesterday received two modern tugboats from China.

TPA’s Corporate Communications Manager, Janeth Ruzangi, said the arrival of the boats would help in speeding operations at the two ports and improve their efficiency.

She explained that the purchase of the boats was part of the special strategy of the authority in increasing the number of the working tools in terms of water and road transport in order to speed up loading and off-loading of cargo at the ports.

“If we could raise efficiency and reach international standards, that would mean that many customers would be lured to use our ports and consequently many vessels would be docking at our ports,” she argued.

Meanwhile, she invited the customers of the ports to come in a big number to use the country’s ports because TPA is now prepared to serve with more efficiency.

The authority’s Chief Captain, Mr Abdullah Mwingamno, said the 70-tonne tug boat, christened Valeria Rugaihuruza will be stationed in Dar es Salaam for serving the fuel vessels offloading the fuel at Oil Jetty and Single Point Mooring (SPM) located at Mjimwema.

The remaining tug boat, known as Mwambani, would be deployed at the Tanga Port to specifically serve the quays.

This is the only port, which handles the cargo vessels by using the quays, which are pulled by the tug boat to the berth after being loaded with the cargo from the ship.

The vessel Mv Valeria Rugaihuruza has its own crane built in it and within it there are two small boats for supporting the working performance at the Oil Jetty. The 3,500-tonne capacity Mv Mwambani is special for pulling quays.