Hopes fot the return of rigs to Walvis Bay

The freeing up of space in the port of Walvis Bay through the building of a new container quay will hopefully attract rig repair and refurbishment business back to the city, says Katja Glöditzsch, managing member of KLD Ships Agency. “Walvis Bay has many advantages, not the least of which is that it is six days’ sailing closer to the West African oil fields.” As confirmed to FTW by two crews working on service boats for the Angolan oil rigs, the industry is wary of using facilities in ports farther up the coast due to delays in the importation of spares and the lack of support infrastructure. Walvis Bay offers very good landside and logistics facilities. A lull in exploration and exploitation caused by the collapse of the oil price could work in Walvis Bay’s favour as it can afford the port authorities and the local industry time to prepare for the next upswing, she believes. In addition to space being freed in the existing port, dedicated ship and rig repair berths are planned for the new SADC gateway port. Work has started on the port which will include a large ship and rig repair yard by 2018, according to Walvis Bay port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem. INSERT & CAPTION Walvis Bay has many advantages, not the least of which is that it is six days’ sailing closer to the West African oil fields. – Katja Glöditzsch