Dar picks up steam as Mombasa Port drops the ball

BY BUSINESS REPORTER AND AGENCIES

KENYA is losing her competitive advantage as East Africa’s economic hub as a result of inefficiencies and congestion at the port of Mombasa, as importers and exporters look for other options.

In recent months, the chaos at the port of Mombasa, which saw the facility experience its worst ever congestion has translated to increased business for the port of Dar-es-Salaam.

According to the Dar-es-Salaam Port Manager, Cassian Ngamilo, the Tanzanian facility has increased the number of containers it handles as some importers divert from using the Mombasa Port.

Last year, Dar port handled 475,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (Teus), compared to 415,000 Teus of the year 2010.

The increase in cargo handling was brought about by increasing container berths at the port so as to allow for up to six container ships to discharge goods at the same time, up from the previous five.

As the Tanzanian port epitomises efficiency, the situation has not improved at the port of Mombasa.

By last Friday, a record 19 vessels were awaiting clearance to berth and discharge various cargoes at the port. Reports indicated that six container vessels were waiting to offload their cargo at the container terminal.

Listed to discharge

Vessels listed to discharge at the container terminal included MSC Denise, MSC Re Union, MV Julie Delmas, Kole Anggun, Imara and Damali. At conventional berths, five vessels namely Blida, Miltzow, Princessa, CMB Paulaand Torgelow were yet to berth.

Both the Mbaraki Wharf, at the Shimanzi and Kipevu Oil Terminals and the English Point were also expected to receive eight vessels.

Vessels lined up at these berths included East Siberian Sea, Sandow, Athens, DP Proteus,Bow Victor ,UACC Al Medina, Lucy 1 and St. Johannis respectively.

According to Ngamilo, East Africa ports continue to experience congestion due to limited handling facilities. But he pointed out that the port of Dar-es-Salaam has geographical advantage for Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as Uganda and South Sudan bound consignments.

"Though the road between Mombasa to Kampala is shorter... Dar stands a better chance for Uganda cargoes once the road between Mwanza and Bukoba is completed,’’ he said.

Master plan

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has drawn a master plan that will cost $400-650 million to implement. The port’s master plan will seek to expand Dar port by constructing two container handling berths, carry out dredging at the entrance channel as well as develop a large inland cargo freight station at Kisarawe, South of Dar-es-Salaam.