The Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) is working with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to establish a Maritime Single Window, a digital platform designed to simplify vessel clearance by bringing information on vessel arrivals, passengers and cargo into a single system.
The platform is expected to reduce bureaucracy, improve efficiency across the maritime transport chain and ease congestion at ports and dry ports.
TASAC Director General, Mr Mohamed Salum, said the maritime sector remains critical to trade, investment, employment and the growth of Tanzania’s blue economy.
He informed that TASAC has completed a regional Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Mwanza, which receives emergency information, identifies the location of incidents, directs the nearest rescue vessel to affected areas, provides weather alerts and coordinates rescue operations with neighbouring countries.
Mr Salum said Tanzania had already acquired two search and rescue boats and one medical boat through the project, while TASAC had budgeted for four additional rescue boats under the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.
“Two of the vessels have already arrived, with one stationed in Tanga and another in Kigoma, while two more are expected in Mtwara and Kagera ,” he said.
According to Mr Salum, a total of 15,353 Certificates of Proficiency (COP), 501 Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDC) and 94 Certificates of Competency (COC) for ship officers have been issued.
TASAC is also planning to acquire two specialised Oil Spill Response and Anti-Pollution Vessels, with one expected to be stationed in Tanga and the other in Dar es Salaam, to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to marine pollution incidents.
For his part, TASAC Board Chairman, Captain Mussa Mandia, called on maritime stakeholders in the country to strengthen cooperation and ensure that policies, laws and international standards were translated into practical action capable of delivering a safe, efficient and competitive maritime sector.
He stressed, however, that sustainable progress requires professionalism, safety and discipline among maritime stakeholders.
“As a retired seafarer who served as a captain, I understand in practice the importance of safety, discipline, perseverance, professionalism, courage, technology and adherence to safety procedures,” Captain Mandia said.