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Wed, Oct 17th, 2012
Tanzania |
Authorities in Zanzibar have said that there are indications that land at the Isles' main port is gradually being submerged by water.
"It is true that our main port faces problems which include sinking. There is no need to exaggerate because experts are conducting research on the matter. "Therefore, we need to exercise patience," the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Communications, Mr Issa Ussi Haji, informed the House.
His statement was in response to people's (including some legislators and environmentalists) concerns about the state of Malindi Port, which is one of the main contributors to the Islands' economy.
However, the deputy minister said that current construction of the landing craft and passengers' terminal were part of development at the port. Thanks to Azam Marine Company for financing the construction aimed at catering for its new ferry "Azam Sealink 1″.
He said the government was going to implement its plans of building a new port close to the current one, while the Zanzibar Ports Corporation (ZPC) has been improving services at the port.Development plans include improving berthing capacity and construction of a new container terminal to enhance port efficiency. The aim is to ensure smooth and effective operation and boost trade activities," he said.
During the latest (2004/2009) rehabilitation of the Malindi Port dispute erupted between the ZanzibarPorts Corporation (ZPC) and contractors- M/S E Pihl and Sons from Denmark over the required design of the Wharf.
While ZPC, Zanzibar, and environmentalists were for a "Pile Jet Wharf", the contractor suggested constructing a "Block Wall" Wharf. Zanzibar's argument was that Block Wall Wharf could not resist harbour activities for a long period.
Environmentalists in Zanzibar also argued at that time that Block Wall Wharf had a number of effects on environment, easier for the ocean waves to turn over, and not suitable for marine vehicles when docking.
European Union (EU) has donated 31 million euros (about 42bn/-) for the total rehabilitation of Zanzibar port. The rehabilitation was on North and West wharves with a total quay length of 382 metres, enhancement of safety at the port, building of dock structures and improvement of container operations.
The contract of designing and building the port was awarded to M/S E Pihl and Sons of Demark and its then director of the company Mr Svend Erik Clemmensen gave minimum life span of 50 years, and maximum of 90 years after construction.
The same port had been rehabilitated and expanded between 1989 and 1992 through European Union's financial support but deviations from technical specifications by the Italian contractor Cogefar Company resulted in premature deterioration of the wharves.
The Cogefar Company paid for damages after poor construction in 1989, the Adjudicators from the International Centre for Arbitration in Paris, France, came to Zanzibar at the end of 2004 to verify claims by the Zanzibar government that the contractor who built Malindi port 11 years ago did a substandard work.
Zanzibar government took the Italian contractor to the centre, demanding compensation of 25 million euros from the firm as payment for the shoddy job. Cogefar were supposed to construct the port to a life span of 60 years but the port worked only for 11 years before crumbling and degenerating. Malindi Port, which handles more than 90 per cent of Zanzibar trade, was built in 1925 as a modest lighter port.
Union government of Tanzania is to contribute 1 million euros towards the cost of ancillary works comprising the demolition of unsafe structures, improvements to the container yard and shore-based passenger ferry facilities.
By ISSA YUSUF, Tanzania Daily News
Tanzania |
Authorities in Zanzibar have said that there are indications that land at the Isles' main port is gradually being submerged by water.
"It is true that our main port faces problems which include sinking. There is no need to exaggerate because experts are conducting research on the matter. "Therefore, we need to exercise patience," the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Communications, Mr Issa Ussi Haji, informed the House.
His statement was in response to people's (including some legislators and environmentalists) concerns about the state of Malindi Port, which is one of the main contributors to the Islands' economy.
However, the deputy minister said that current construction of the landing craft and passengers' terminal were part of development at the port. Thanks to Azam Marine Company for financing the construction aimed at catering for its new ferry "Azam Sealink 1″.
He said the government was going to implement its plans of building a new port close to the current one, while the Zanzibar Ports Corporation (ZPC) has been improving services at the port.Development plans include improving berthing capacity and construction of a new container terminal to enhance port efficiency. The aim is to ensure smooth and effective operation and boost trade activities," he said.
During the latest (2004/2009) rehabilitation of the Malindi Port dispute erupted between the ZanzibarPorts Corporation (ZPC) and contractors- M/S E Pihl and Sons from Denmark over the required design of the Wharf.
While ZPC, Zanzibar, and environmentalists were for a "Pile Jet Wharf", the contractor suggested constructing a "Block Wall" Wharf. Zanzibar's argument was that Block Wall Wharf could not resist harbour activities for a long period.
Environmentalists in Zanzibar also argued at that time that Block Wall Wharf had a number of effects on environment, easier for the ocean waves to turn over, and not suitable for marine vehicles when docking.
European Union (EU) has donated 31 million euros (about 42bn/-) for the total rehabilitation of Zanzibar port. The rehabilitation was on North and West wharves with a total quay length of 382 metres, enhancement of safety at the port, building of dock structures and improvement of container operations.
The contract of designing and building the port was awarded to M/S E Pihl and Sons of Demark and its then director of the company Mr Svend Erik Clemmensen gave minimum life span of 50 years, and maximum of 90 years after construction.
The same port had been rehabilitated and expanded between 1989 and 1992 through European Union's financial support but deviations from technical specifications by the Italian contractor Cogefar Company resulted in premature deterioration of the wharves.
The Cogefar Company paid for damages after poor construction in 1989, the Adjudicators from the International Centre for Arbitration in Paris, France, came to Zanzibar at the end of 2004 to verify claims by the Zanzibar government that the contractor who built Malindi port 11 years ago did a substandard work.
Zanzibar government took the Italian contractor to the centre, demanding compensation of 25 million euros from the firm as payment for the shoddy job. Cogefar were supposed to construct the port to a life span of 60 years but the port worked only for 11 years before crumbling and degenerating. Malindi Port, which handles more than 90 per cent of Zanzibar trade, was built in 1925 as a modest lighter port.
Union government of Tanzania is to contribute 1 million euros towards the cost of ancillary works comprising the demolition of unsafe structures, improvements to the container yard and shore-based passenger ferry facilities.
By ISSA YUSUF, Tanzania Daily News
