Intermodal options cut transit times for Namibian shipments

HAULING SULPHURIC acid by road from the Namibian border to copper mines in Zambia is a new service which TransNamib Holdings commenced in May. Ten vehicles are dedicated to the service which aims to supply 1 000 tons a month. "We've reached about half that target figure right now, but the orders are increasing rapidly so it won't be long before we make our targeted figure," says Jack Dempsey, TransNamib's senior manager, commercial services. The acid, which is landed at Walvis Bay, is railed the 630km to Grootfontein then pumped into the TransNamib vehicles for delivery. It is part of the cross-country and over-border services provided by the government para-statal, along with other deliveries such as zinc and lead concentrate hauled from mines to Windhoek for railing into South Africa, and pre-cooled milk brought from farming sources in the south of the country to Windhoek for distribution. Another service which is finding favour with shippers is the company's daily TNX express trucking service from Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to Upington, from which point goods are railed to Windhoek. Devised mainly for parcel and container services, its aim, says Dempsey, is to shorten transit times. "Rail from these pick-up points would mean a five- or seven-day delivery time. With the TNX service we can have the items here in two days." Using 15 MAN vehicles on a full-maintenance lease contract and three vehicles of its own, the operator can also call on subcontractors in the South African centres where necessary. Normal containers as well as mini-containers all owned by TransNamib are used. "All are railed from Upington to Windhoek, but then it's back on the road where necessary," says Dempsey. An example is a consignment for a place like Oshikathi. This means railing 1 600km to Tsumeb and then a 270km road haul to the final destination. TransNamib trucks are also running in competition with two private haulier companies in the distribution of fuel throughout Namibia.