KAREMA: Tanzania is set to deploy four large cargo vessels on Lake Tanganyika in a move expected to boost cross-border trade, create jobs and improve incomes in western regions, officials said.
The ships, under construction at Karema Port since April 2025, are more than 95% complete and undergoing final inspections ahead of planned operations starting in July, port authorities said.
Once operational, the vessels will serve trade routes linking Tanzania with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Burundi, strengthening regional supply chains and opening new export corridors.
“They will create an economic gateway for the country and opportunities for young people,” Karema Port Assistant Manager Anthony Poyo said during the launch of the fourth vessel.
Each ship has a capacity of up to 8,000 tonnes and is expected to support the movement of minerals including copper, lithium and gold from eastern Congo through Tanzanian ports for export.
Officials said the project would also benefit farmers and small traders by lowering transport costs and improving access to regional and international markets.
The vessels are expected to generate jobs, particularly in maritime services, with each ship requiring at least 15 crew members, while also stimulating port operations and related businesses.
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The initiative is part of broader efforts by the government to improve transport infrastructure and position Tanzania as a regional trade hub.
Authorities say cargo from Lake Tanganyika will be linked to the country’s central and standard gauge railways, connecting inland ports such as Kigoma to the Indian Ocean ports of Dar es Salaam and Tanga.
Local residents welcomed the development but called for improvements to road infrastructure, particularly the Mpanda–Karema route, to fully unlock the economic potential of the project.
The investment is expected to strengthen economic activity in regions bordering Lake Tanganyika, including Rukwa, Katavi and Kigoma, while supporting Tanzania’s wider development strategy.