The Namibian Port
Authority (Namport)
has embarked on an
ambitious upgrade
programme to meet its target
of doubling its 2012 volumes
of cargo handling and railtransported
cargo by 2017.
Manager
of sales and
marketing at
Namport, Elias
Mwenyo, told
FTW that this
was in an effort
to keep up
with projected
sub-Saharan
growth over the
next four years.
“The programme to achieve the
2017 outcome includes a new
container terminal at Walvis
Bay, infrastructure capacity
creation at Walvis Bay and
Lüderitz ports, automating the
ports, building human resource
capacity and promoting public
private partnerships,” he noted.
Mwenyo said that Namport
had seen total cargo volumes
of 304 000 TEUs last year – up
from 183 000 in 2008 – and
that demand was projected to
grow to 1 million TEUs by 2025.
“Currently, we offer
335 000-TEU capacity and have
increased the draught at Berths
1 to 3 from 12.8 metres to 14
metres so they can now handle
4 500-TEU container vessels,”
he said.
Other recent achievements
include growth in vehicle
imports through Walvis Bay –
up to 357 000
in 2013 from
224 000 units
in 2008 – and
the provision
of dry ports
for Zambia,
Zimbabwe and
Botswana.
Containers
currently
contribute
around 41% of total revenue
for Namport, and this will
be further boosted with the
opening of the new container
terminal at Walvis Bay port
in 2017. “The R3.9-billion
terminal will offer a capacity
of 750 000 TEUs per annum
and a 600-metre quay length,”
said Mwenyo. He said that
long-term developments for the
Port of Walvis Bay included the
following:
• 10 000 metres of quay wall
and jetties
• 30 large berths
• Coal terminal (65 million
tonnes per annum capacity)
linked to the Trans-Kalahari
Railway
• Multi-purpose dry-bulk
terminal
• Tanker jetty
The Port of Lüderitz is also
being upgraded and will have
a new cold storage facility,
increased reefer points,
new port rail network and
a rehabilitated boatyard by
2015/2016. Long-term plans
for the port include a new deep
water port at Angra Point and
a heavy-haul rail connection –
possibly to the Northern Cape’s
Hotazel manganese mines.
According to Mwenyo,
Namport will issue a tender
for port automation consulting
services by the end of this
year. “We will work them to
plan the best information
management and collaborative
system and hope to appoint an
implementation partner by early
next year,” he said.
Another objective for 2017
is Namport’s port capacity
building programme which will
include the training of marine
pilots, tug masters and cargo
operators.
INSERT & CAPTION
The R3.9-billion terminal
will offer a capacity of
750 000 TEUs per annum.
– Elias Mwenyo
CAPTION
Long-term plans are for the Port of Walvis Bay to be established as a
Southern African Development Community (SADC) port gateway.
