Analysis of the integrity of the existing port structures and services facilities at the Dar es salaam harbour

The integrity of the existing port structures and service facilities at the port of Dar es Salaam were examined. The analysis of the collected data using a baseline forecasting method revealed that, service facilities at the port are capable of handling the forecasted cargo by the year 2014/15 provided the current traffic trend does not change. The container terminal may require increasing berth length to at least 675m in order to simultaneously accommodate three second-generation vessels expected to frequently call at the port. Site inspection, rebound hammer and in-situ carbonation tests revealed that the integrity of existing reinforced concrete structures is in poor condition due to corrosion of reinforcement. The observed deterioration is not caused by carbonation; but other marine hazardous agents. Quay walls are structurally good. Currently quay foundations are protected from scouring because the harbor is silting; except for berth 6 and probably berth 5 where erosion is taking place. Protection of the quay foundations at berths 5 and 6 may be is needed. Sounding survey carried out in 2002, four years after dredging the entrance channel and the harbor basin, revealed that entrance channel is eroding while harbor basin is silting at a higher rate of between 13 and 43 cm/year than before when it was between 7 and 25 cm/year. If the sedimentation rate remains constant, the harbor will need more frequent dredging. Before, it took 20 years for the harbor basin to be dredged. For the present rate it will take only 11 years.