Late last month, the media reported that Tanzania will begin building a new container port, set to become East Africa's largest deep-sea port.

The construction of the Bagamoyo port will start in December, concluding ten years of postponements caused by disputes over initial contract terms with foreign developers.

The announcement was made on 23 November 2025, confirming the transition of one of East Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure projects from planning to execution.

Bagamoyo port is situated approximately 75 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam and forms part of a large-scale special economic zone incorporating industrial parks and integrated transport links.

According to Gerson Msigwa, the government’s chief spokesperson, the port will eventually feature 28 berths, with construction starting on 14.

The facility is designed with a depth of up to 20 metres, enabling it to accommodate larger vessels than any other port in the region.

Msigwa stated that the port will handle ships with capacities of up to 25,000 TEU. Construction machinery is already en route, although further details on contractors and project value were not disclosed.

The Bagamoyo development is positioned as a cornerstone of Tanzania’s broader infrastructure strategy, which also includes urban railway construction, modernisation of Kigoma port, and the creation of a logistics-industrial ecosystem.

The Tanzania Ports Authority has allocated approximately EUR 8 million for initial studies and early-stage works, including deep-water docks.

Since its inception in 2013, the project has faced repeated interruptions. It was fully suspended in 2019, but negotiations resumed in 2021, leading to the current launch following stabilisation of financing and logistical frameworks.