Ongoing investment in the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz is strengthening their positioning as gateways for cross-border trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has commissioned an additional two reach stackers in Walvis Bay and four forklifts – three in Walvis Bay and one in Lüderitz, according to Elias Mwenyo, Executive: Commercial Services for the port authority.Almost 15 million Namibian dollars (R15 million) was spent on the reach stackers, which take the f leet in Walvis Bay to 10. A further N$2 million (R2 million) was invested in the forklifts.Speaking at the event heralding the investment, Namport CEO Andrew Kanime said: “This latest acquisition and addition of equipment to our f leet is a tangible reaffirmation of our seriousness and resolve to address the challenge of old equipment and disruption of operations.”Volumes through the ports continue to grow, according to Mwenyo. There has been a 4% increase in the number of TEUs handled and a 5% growth in breakbulk year-on-year.
