© 2026 Observater Surveys and Services Group. All rights reserved.
Securing the logistics chain from the Port of Dar es Salaam to the Cashew farms of Mtwara. From Mineral Transit (Copper/Cobalt) to PVoC Readiness Checks for importers. We are your independent eyes in East Africa.
PSI in Tanzania is a crucial risk management tool. While the government mandates PVoC for imports, independent Commercial Pre-Shipment Inspection goes further. We verify that goods meet Buyer Specifications, contractual quality, and are “PVoC Ready” before the official agents arrive. This prevents costly rejections, delays, and penalties for importers and exporters alike.
Before sourcing from Tanzania’s growing industrial sector, verify your supplier. We cover industrial hubs in Dar es Salaam (Mbagala), Arusha, Tanga, and Mwanza to ensure production capacity and quality.
Verifying the legal existence of the supplier to prevent fraud.
Assessing production capacity for Agro-processing, Textiles, and Manufacturing.
Mandatory for ethical sourcing of Cotton and Textiles (Textiles to Go).
Tanzania acts as the logistical gateway for East Africa’s massive infrastructure development. We provide specialized technical supervision for Out of Gauge (OOG) and break-bulk cargo destined for Energy, Railway, Mining, and Oil & Gas projects across the region.
Checking the securing of cargo on Flat Racks or Low Bed trucks for inland transit to Dodoma, Mwanza, or cross-border. We calculate the Minimum Breaking Load (MBL) to withstand road conditions.
The central corridor roads can be challenging. Improper lashing leads to accidents and project delays. Insurers require independent lashing certificates before trucks leave the port.
Direct hook-to-truck or hook-to-rail supervision at Dar es Salaam port. We verify the use of correct lifting gear (spreaders, grommets) to prevent damage. We document the condition before lifting to separate pre-shipment damage from handling damage.
Tanzania is a global leader in Cashew Nuts and Sisal. We inspect these high-value goods during the critical stuffing phase in Mtwara, Dar es Salaam, and Tanga.
Origin: Mtwara / Lindi
Origin: Mbeya / Kilimanjaro
Origin: Lindi / Dodoma
Origin: Mwanza / Tanga
Dar es Salaam handles millions of tons of Fertilizer, Wheat, and Fuel for Tanzania and the landlocked neighbors. We use displacement science to certify quantity and supervision to minimize losses.
Determining cargo weight by measuring the vessel’s water displacement before and after operations at Dar es Salaam anchorage or berth.
Reading draft marks. Measuring specific gravity of harbor water using a hydrometer. Sounding all ballast/fuel tanks.
Repeating measurements after loading/discharge. The difference in displacement (minus consumables) equals cargo weight.
Providing an independent weight certificate accepted by TRA (Customs), TASAC, and Receivers.
Monitoring discharge of bulk Fertilizer. Supervising bagging operations to ensure 50kg accuracy. Tallying bags loaded onto trucks for local and transit use.
Hatch sealing and unsealing. Inspection for water ingress or heat damage in top layers. Continuous supervision during silo discharge.
Counting bags loaded onto trucks for transit to Zambia, DRC, or Rwanda. Verifying truck condition and tarpaulins to prevent loss/wetting during the journey.
Mtwara and Dar es Salaam are hubs for container stuffing. We verify the quality and quantity of Cashew Nuts and Coffee as they are transferred from warehouses to sea containers.
We assist with cross-stuffing transit cargo from trucks to containers for export, or rescuing cargo from damaged containers.
For Copper/Cobalt transiting from Zambia/DRC:
Tanzanian exports are subject to quality control by various boards (Cashewnut Board, Coffee Board). We act on behalf of buyers to ensure the quality matches the contract and standards.
Review of Proforma Invoice, Export Contract, and Packing List. Confirmation of warehouse location.
Sampling per ISO 2859-1. Quality checks (Moisture, Admixture, Grade). Verification of “Product of Tanzania” marks.
Supervision of loading. “First In, First Out”. Container fitness check. Application of high-security seal.
Issuance of Inspection Report to facilitate banking (LC) negotiation and Customs clearance.
Banks financing trade in Tanzania face risks when lending against physical commodities (especially Cashew and Coffee). We provide the boots on the ground to secure these assets in Warehouses.
A one-time unannounced visit to verify that the goods funded by the bank actually exist in the warehouse and haven’t been sold.
Periodic (Weekly/Monthly) reporting on stock levels, movement, and condition. We act as the independent third party reporter.
Full Legal Control. We take possession of the warehouse keys. We place our own padlocks and security guards. Goods are only released upon written instruction from the Bank.
Exporting from Tanzania involves strict compliance protocols. We verify requirements before the container leaves the port.
Ensuring goods destined for Tanzania match the invoice and transit cargo to the Copperbelt arrives intact. We focus on commercial quality assurance and risk mitigation.
Fail-proof your official inspection. We conduct a rigorous “Mock Inspection” matching TBS standards to identify non-conformities (labeling, shelf life) before the official inspector arrives.
Conducting due diligence on trading partners to ensure legitimacy and prevent fraud for imported vehicles and machinery, industrial raw materials and consumer goods.
Verifying that imported machinery and goods match the proforma invoice and technical specs required by the buyer.
Our responsibility doesn’t end at the port. We have established inspection capacity in all major landlocked countries utilizing Dar es Salaam and Tanga ports, ensuring end-to-end chain of custody.
Locations: Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola.
Locations: Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, Kasumbalesa.
Locations: Lilongwe, Blantyre.
Locations: Kigali (DP World/Masaka).
Locations: Bujumbura.
Locations: Kampala, Jinja, Tororo.
Rough handling or humidity at ports can lead to claims. We provide independent technical reports to support your insurance claim and mitigate the loss.
Meeting with the Shipping Line’s surveyor and the TPA (Ports Authority) representative. We agree on the extent of damage without admitting liability.
Determining the root cause. Was it heat damage? Seawater? Or rough handling? This determines liability.
Organizing salvage sales for damaged goods to minimize the total claim amount. We manage the bidding process locally.
Transit and export trade has specific risks. We have developed protocols to counter the most common fraudulent practices in the region.
Mixing lower grades/quality. Our Solution: Rigorous sampling and cutting tests.
Swapping high grade Copper with waste rock. Our Solution: Sampling and XRF testing at loading.
Shipping empty containers to claim export incentives. Our Solution: We seal the container and record the seal number on the spot.
We provide Pre-PVoC Readiness Inspections. While the final CoC is issued by government-appointed agents, our “Mock Inspection” ensures your cargo meets all TBS standards before the official audit. This prevents costly rejections, delays, and re-inspection fees.
Dar es Salaam: The principal port handling most cargo and transit to landlocked neighbors. Tanga: Significant for Sisal and Coffee. Mtwara: The main hub for Cashew Nut exports in the south. Zanzibar: Main port for the island.
Yes. We inspect transit cargo (Copper, Cobalt, Coffee) coming from Zambia, DRC, Malawi, Rwanda, and Burundi at the point of entry or exit in Tanzania to ensure integrity and quantity.
Please specify if this is for Export (Cashew/Minerals), Import, or Transit.
When precision matters, Observater Surveys Group is your Partner of Choice
© 2026 Observater Surveys and Services Group. All rights reserved.