Mtwara Port Manager, Stella Katondo, said the ports are also set to serve products manufactured in industries in the two sister regions of Mtwara and Lindi. "The improvement of these ports is expected to bring successes, including creating employment to Tanzanians, Lindi and Mtwara residents," she said.

 

To start with, the authority is currently building a modern berth to have a length of between 4 and 8 metres at Lindi port, and also the building of such berths at Mtwara port to begin in the next financial year.

 

The new berth at Mtwara port will have a capacity of serving all types of vessels with maximum length of 300 metres. She said after completion of the construction the new berths would help in increasing efficiency of the ports in serving big consignments.

 

The construction of modern berths at Mtwara port is still at the stage of finding a consultant to do feasibility study. Katondo said recently Deputy Minister in the Vice-President's Office (Environment), Luhaga Mpina, commended the Mtwara port for environmental cleanliness.

 

The port manager encouraged traders to import and export through the port as plans are under way to ensure that days used for loading and off loading are reduced. Speaking over performance of the port, she said in the year 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 the port served a total of 356,356 tons and 273,882 tons of cargo respectively.

 

On other hand, she noted that the port has already implemented government directive of going electronic.

Source : allafrica.com