Dar es Salaam. Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (Ticts) has achieved a monthly record of 54,447 containers – measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) – in August 2018 as the volume of both local and transit traffic was reported to have grown.

The company said in a statement that the volume grew by more than 20 per cent compared to that of August 2017 while transit cargo for some countries increased by more than 45 per cent year on year in August 2018.

The last record monthly throughput of 50,400 TEUs was achieved in March 2018, according to the statement.

The company operates the largest container terminal at the port of Dar es Salaam.

“Landlocked countries have been driving growth for Ticts as a result of significant increases in global commodity prices and the Tanzanian government’s removal of value added tax on ancillary services for transit cargo,” said Ticts chief executive Jared Zerbe.

“Our modern equipment and standards of excellence are helping us handle the volume increase, although space constraints represent an acute challenge,” he added.

Mr Zerbe said space is a challenge due to the fact that transit containers cannot be transferred outside the port for storage prior to clearance. This leads to maximum yard density at peak times.

“To increase efficiency, Ticts has been working with the government to locate alternative storage areas for transit containers. Ticts has also been appealing to the government to allow some transit cargo to be sent outside the port to inland container depots to find more space within the port; allow Ticts to buy or rent more space nearby, or adjust downward the grace period for transit countries to expedite cargo clearance.

“The Tanzania Ports Authority and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) could also help raise our efficiency by opening a one-stop centre in the city for documentary clearance in order to expedite container pick-up. Then it is up to our customers to expedite clearance of their cargo after discharge,” he said.