Tanzania - First Phase of the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project : Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Deepening and Strengthening of Berths 8-11 and Electrical Works for Berths 1-11, the Ro-Ro Yard and the Container Terminal

Overview & Synopsis

The development objective of the Dar es Salaam Port Improvement Project is to enhance port capacity, operational efficiency, and maritime infrastructure through the deepening and strengthening of Berths 8-11, associated electrical works, and improvements to the Ro-Ro yard and container terminal. Some of the negative impacts and mitigation measures include: (1) strengthening vessel traffic management systems, navigation coordination, and emergency spill preparedness to address increased marine traffic and navigation risks; (2) conducting continuous water-quality monitoring during dredging activities and enforcing spill prevention and waste-control measures to manage turbidity and pollution; (3) monitoring sediment quality and implementing strict dredged-material management procedures prior to disposal; (4) tracking offshore disposal-site conditions, plume behavior, and seabed deposition to prevent impacts on sensitive marine environments; (5) applying sediment plume controls and adaptive management measures to protect coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and other sensitive habitats; (6) providing advance notice and communication to fishers, maintaining grievance mechanisms, and implementing phased works to reduce disruption to fisheries; (7) implementing traffic management plans, dust suppression measures, road-safety controls, and speed restrictions to minimize community impacts; and (8) maintaining oil spill contingency plans, emergency response capacity, routine drills, and contractor spill-prevention procedures to address marine pollution risks, while supporting local employment, stakeholder engagement, and long-term economic benefits from improved port operations.