WALVIS BAY may experience an 'octopus explosion' in its harbour confines in the near future. Those are the words of Hartmut Heitmann, managing director of Ships Agents and Fish Exporters Namibia (SAFE).
He speaks with a mixture of humour and gleeful businesslike expectation. His initial project in multiple container serving has been an outstanding success.
The Octopus, as Heitmann describes it, is a mobile cold store which stands in the harbour confines. It has seven entrances, each constructed to accommodate a full-sized container.
Everything is governed by a minus 20 degree temperature, and fish can be loaded and unloaded in the central bay into which each of the containers lead, without prejudicing the quality of the product.
Most important, however, is the fact that it has eliminated the need for weekend loading. The consignment can be stacked on a Friday and remain intact throughout the weekend without problems.
It has enabled shippers to guarantee an improved shelf life of the product and is in full demand, says Heitmann. But it has proved so popular it has provided a problem of its own, which may result in more of its kind being built.
The problem is that only one vessel can work with it at any given time. Heitmann now sees the possibility of a second and then a third addition to the family being built to meet demands.
It all depends on figures, he says. But the demand is there already and when the Walvis Bay harbour dredging is completed in mid-year, there are bound to be more and more ships calling in here. We've seen the need for an Octopus family growth, and we'll be watching trends closely.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
