Tanzania sanctions private inland depots

Helping to ease Dar congestion IN A bid to alleviate chronic congestion at the port of Dar es Salaam Container Terminal, which has seen shipping lines being forced to divert cargo to Mombasa, the Tanzanian government has granted permission for privately owned inland container depots (ICD) to be established. The idea is that having the ICDs will allow some of the congested cargo to be moved out from the port container terminal into supervised private depots under the authority of the Tanzania Revenue Authority. The latter has issued guidelines for private freight operators aimed at creating a streamlined, efficient operation free of unnecessary controls. According to Tanzania’s Commissioner of Customs & Excise, private operators will be required to deposit security bonds of no less than US$500 000 before receiving a licence, after which they can move cargo from the port into the ICD where verification and documentation can be processed. As with Customs Bond Stores elsewhere, Tanzanian Customs will have the right to inspect depots at any time to verify that regulations are being followed.