Maersk to set up Walvis Bay depot

Macs schedules northbound calls Leonard Neill MAERSK NAMIBIA has signed a lease and commercial agreement with the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) which enables it to construct and operate its own empty container depot in the port of Walvis Bay. ÒIt shows our confidence in developments in this region," says Maersk Namibia managing director Ralf Hanel. Construction details and plans for the depot's operation are still to be disclosed, but, says Namport chief executive 'Wessie' Wessels, it takes Walvis Bay a step closer to the envisaged role of becoming the western hub port for trade between SADC, Europe and the Americas. ÒThe agreement is the culmination of years of effort from Namport's marketing and strategy business development department to attain private sector investment in the port industry in Namibia," he said. Maritime Carrier Shipping (MACS) has also announced it will be making regular scheduled calls at Walvis Bay on its northbound service from Cape Town to Europe in future. Previously its schedule included southbound calls, with northbound calls on inducement only. Two vessels, Green Cape and Diamond Land, will call on a regular basis northbound, rather than transhipping cargo destined for Europe through Cape Town. This reduces transit times to 11 days to Lisbon and 15 days to Rotterdam. "These are versatile vessels equipped to carry bulk, break bulk and containers as well as integral reefer containers in addition to their RoRo ability," says line manager Johan Swart. The Green Cape recently moved the 100ton lift crane, Mantis, from Europe to Walvis Bay for quay operations, which has contributed towards far more efficient service, says Wessels.