Another step forward for new Walvis Bay container terminal

The contract for the construction of a new container terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay will be awarded before the end of the year, said Zunaid Pochee of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG). Pochee told FTW the dredging of the port from 12.8 to 14 metres had just been completed, but already tenders were out for the dredging of another two metres. “We believe that the tenders for the new container terminal and the further dredging of the port to 16 metres will be awarded before the end of the year.” Some R2.7 billion will be spent on infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. “Once completed the port will have the capacity to receive post-panamax vessels and be able to handle up to 800 000 containers per year.” Currently some 350 000 TEUs are being handled at Walvis Bay compared to 20 000 just ten years ago. Since 1994, some R800 million has been invested in the facility. Pochee said while the market had fallen quite considerably during the recession of 2009 there had been a major revival, with many requirements and requests on the various corridors the organisation represents. “With a zero pilferage record in the port to date, we offer a competitive service in terms of both cost and time. Our biggest challenge, however, remains changing the mindset of people who still think Durban and Cape Town first.” Despite this, Pochee said major headway had been made into the southern African market and with the facilities being upgraded more growth was expected for the future.