Lüderitz silences the sceptics

Namibian ports are serving renewable energy projects in South Africa. “Of note was the heaviest shipment of plant equipment that was ever offloaded at Namibia’s southern port of Lüderitz,” he adds. Manica subsidiary, Lüderitz Bay Shipping and Forwarding (LBSF), handled the clearing and forwarding of this hefty load weighing 335 metric tons. The first shipment was made up of two heat exchangers, followed by the offloading of a steam turbine (143t) and generator (108t). These parts are used in the construction of the Khi and Kaxu solar plants erected at Pofadder and near Upington in the Northern Cape. In the latest shipment a steam accumulator had to be lifted with two 1000t cranes. According to the general manager of LBSF, John Gillham, Lüderitz was the preferred choice to offload the parts, despite some concerns by the clients. “The overriding factor was the favourable and less congested route. So they opted for Lüderitz. However, there was scepticism about the port of Lüderitz and our ability to handle such a heavy load. “We were able to offload this large consignment within two hours, having stabilised the vessel with a port tug. The client was impressed with the operations and advised that future shipments of this nature would be headed for Luderitz,” he added. This unusual cargo also caught the attention of the local media, as the load almost covered the full width of the road. A special 70-metre-long and five-metre-wide trailer with 28 axles and 336 tyres was used to carry the load. Three high-power trucks with their own drivers pushed and pulled the trailer, driving at speeds of 10 to 20km/h.