The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is marking a historic moment with the arrival of the largest cruise ship, MV Norwegian Dawn, signaling a strategic milestone and instilling confidence for similar-sized vessels to dock at the Dar es Salaam Port.
Operated by the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the 294-meter-long ship set a new record for the port, ushering in over 2,210 tourists when it docked at approximately 6 am yesterday, with plans to depart later in the evening.
During a vibrant event to welcome the vessel, Mrisho Selemani, the Dar es Salaam Port Director, representing TPA’s Director General Plasduce Mbossa, highlighted the ship's significant capacity to carry 4,700 tourists, although it arrived with 2,210 tourists and 1,000 crew members.
Mr. Mrisho expressed pride in the success of the Royal Tour campaign, with the tourists destined for Selous National Park and other attractions in the country. He emphasized the port's contentment with the safe arrival of such a large ship, attributing it to improved infrastructure, including deeper berths and a widened entrance channel.
“This is the largest ship ever to dock at the port of Dar es Salaam due to improvements in port infrastructure. We expect to serve ships with a length of up to 305 meters,” he declared, acknowledging the government and TPA's efforts in expanding the port.
Captain Abdula Mwingamno, TPA’s Director of Marine and Port Operations, emphasized the strategic importance of the ship's arrival in luring vessels of similar size, instilling confidence in the safety of Dar es Salaam Port. He praised the condition of the port's marine fenders, crucial for preventing damage during berthing.
Captain Mwingamno and his team safely guided the ship from the entrance channel to the berth, utilizing the improved port infrastructure. He highlighted their recent simulation in Germany, successfully navigating a ship up to 350 meters long through the enhanced entrance channel.
Damasi Mfugale, the Managing Director of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), recognized the arrival of the largest ship as a significant boost for the tourism sector, anticipating further growth in marine tourism.
Tourists from the ship shared their excitement about visiting Tanzania. Mr. Ken Orner, a tourist from the US, expressed admiration for the country, highlighting the importance of the port accommodating such large ships with deep water access for safety.
The Dar es Salaam Port is experiencing increased maritime activity, with a total of 16 international ships scheduled to call between Friday and Sunday last week, complementing the 38 vessels that recently docked at the port. Notable arrivals include the Dream Diamond vehicle carrier, which unloaded 2,500 cars, making way for the Sunshine Ace to dock with 1,500 vehicles on board.