Tanzania Revives Idle Fleets and Plans Two Major Cargo Vessels to Advance Blue Economy Goals
Arusha — Tanzania is rolling out an ambitious initiative to unlock the blue economy by refurbishing idle vessels nationwide and commissioning two new large cargo ships. The effort aims to bolster maritime transport’s role in driving economic growth and to support the country’s long-term development objectives.
Speaking at the opening of the 18th Joint Transport Sector Review (JTSR) in Arusha, Deputy Minister of Transport David Kihenzile announced that the government has already begun selecting a contractor to rehabilitate stalled vessels across the country, with particular attention to Kigoma, Katavi, and Rukwa regions that depend heavily on Lake Tanganyika.
The plan, he said, seeks to revive inland water transport to spur trade, cut transport costs, and improve the efficiency of cargo and passenger services on the nation’s major lakes.
In addition to refurbishing existing vessels, the government intends to construct two large new cargo ships that will operate on regional and international routes. One vessel, capable of carrying 3,500 tonnes, will run on Lake Tanganyika, while the other, with a 3,000-tonne capacity, will serve Lake Victoria. This move is expected to boost cross-border trade with neighboring nations and grow national revenue from maritime transport.
As part of the broader plan, a large shipbuilding and repair facility will be established domestically. The facility is projected to reduce the high costs of overseas repairs and strengthen domestic capabilities in maritime engineering and technology.
The overarching aim, according to Kihenzile, is to position Tanzania as a blue economy hub in East and Central Africa while ensuring the sector accelerates progress toward the National Development Vision 2050. He urged participants at the three-day conference to engage in detailed discussions on implementation, identify bottlenecks, and propose practical measures to accelerate delivery so tangible results materialize on schedule.
Held from December 15 to 17, 2025, the forum carries the theme “Integrated transportation system as the foundation of economic transformation towards Vision 2050.” It seeks to evaluate policy, plan, and project implementation across the transport sector.
The meeting has convened a broad group of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, public and private institutions, and civil society organizations.
Separately, Prof Godius Kahyarara, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, noted that the annual forum provides a platform for transport professionals—especially those working in roads, railways, and ports—to align plans and collectively address implementation challenges. He highlighted ongoing discussions on progress upgrading road, rail, port, and aviation infrastructure, along with constraints affecting timely and efficient project execution. He also emphasized attention to environmentally sustainable transport and the sector’s role in driving national economic growth, while outlining opportunities to review resource use, transparency, and accountability in project delivery and to set sector priorities for the coming year.
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