Mtwara

Deep-water seaport in southern Tanzania, on Mtwara Bay; population (2002) 79,300. It was opened in 1954.

The port has deep-water berths constructed in a landlocked bay where there is sufficient water for the largest ships. The port was constructed to handle exports arising from the ‘Groundnut Scheme’ which attempted to grow groundnuts in agriculturally unsuitable areas. The failure of the scheme means that the port is not yet used to its full capacity.