Dar es Salaam. The commencement of operations by DP World at Dar es Salaam Port is projected to save the Tanzanian economy approximately $600 million (Sh1.62 trillion) by eliminating container demurrage charges.
Previously, a fee of $1,000 was charged for each container delayed at the port.
With the new changes, this fee has been removed, significantly reducing costs for shipping operations.
The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General, Mr Plasduce Mbossa, said on Tuesday August 20 that ships arriving at Dar es Salaam were previously subject to peak season charges of $1,000 per container due to prolonged waiting times for cargo unloading.
However, this fee has now been eliminated.
“Currently, the waiting time for ships has decreased. As a result, the $1,000 fee has been removed. For example, instead of paying $4,500 for a container, you now pay $3,500,” said Mbossa.
Mbossa noted that MSC was the first shipping company to remove the fees, bringing shipping costs at Dar es Salaam in line with those at Mombasa Port.
This move has pressured other shipping companies to follow suit.
“Annually, we handle 1.2 million containers. Removing the $1,000 fee for the remaining half of the year will save the country significant amounts. Previously, you had to purchase dollars from foreign exchange bureaus to pay shipping companies, but now these savings can be redirected,” Mbossa added.
He further explained that the waiting period for ships has reduced from 28 days to 10 days.
Container ships now dock at the port for one to three days, depending on the cargo, representing a major improvement in service delivery at Dar es Salaam Port.
Mr Mbossa said the achievements strengthen Tanzania’s position as a commercial hub in East and Central Africa and reflect President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s commitment to managing national resources for the benefit of Tanzanians.
Since DP World began operations in May, TPA has reported several successes, including reduced waiting times for ships, improved turnaround times, and significant cost reductions.
Crane operations have also been optimised, leading to increased productivity from May to July 2024, with the port handling its largest container ships to date.
The improved efficiency has enhanced Dar es Salaam Port’s competitiveness, aligning it with Mombasa in cargo handling capabilities.
According to the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), DP World has made substantial changes, enhancing port efficiency and better controlling port areas.
“Port area control has allowed workers to focus on their tasks, saving time. We have observed an increase in cargo handling machinery, with everyone now dedicated to their roles. Dar es Salaam Port is on track to become one of the best ports globally,” their feedback report stated.
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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.
While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher
Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).
“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.
Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.
The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.
“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.
She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.
“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.
Cross-border transmission
The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.
The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.
Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”
The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.
The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.
Transparency urged
Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.
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“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.
WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.
“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.
The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Source: allafrica.com
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