Namport markets complementary West Coast option

Flushed with the success of a
marketing campaign drawing
SA shippers’ attention to
the Namibian Ports of Walvis Bay
and Luderitz, the marine facilities’
management company, the Namibian
Ports Authority (Namport), is
stressing that its Atlantic Coast ports
offer complementary service rather
than competition to Durban’s Indian
Ocean location.
“We have seen a steady increase
in business the past couple of years.
Yes, we give credit to the marketing
campaign, of course. It’s been
business as usual at Walvis Bay this
year too with more volumes moved
by more ships,” said Wessels Feris,
Namport’s executive assistant
for marketing.
One reason why Walvis Bay has
escaped the impact of this year’s
global recession is that long-term
contracts for Namibian fish, the
port’s primary shipped commodity,
are being honoured by overseas
buyers, and oil companies are taking
advantage of down time imposed by
low oil prices to tow idle rigs off the
West African coasts to Walvis Bay
for servicing. The tugs that transport
them are also being refurbished
while in port.
“But operations at Luderitz have
taken a hit because of the recession.
Fishing hasn’t been affected, and
bulk cargo like zinc mining (output)
has not yet been affected, though it
may still face a threat,” said Feris.
“It’s the smaller goods that are
moving less, like the marine services
that supply the off-shore diamond
mines. De Beers is the biggest
operator,” he noted.
Another reason for a steady rise
in volumes out of Walvis Bay is the
increase in vessels using the port,
which in turn offers shippers
more options.
“There has been an increase in
calls by CMA CGM, and we are
likely to see the introduction of yet
another shipping line, Mitsui OSK
Lines (MOL), bringing regular
scheduled calls to the Port of Walvis
Bay," Feris reported.
Meanwhile, continued marketing
of Namibia’s ports by the Walvis Bay
Corridor Group, which comprises
port stakeholders, will publicise
the lack of congestion and speed
of operations at the Namport-run
facilities. Late last year WBCG
opened an office in Gauteng to
spread the word that for many SA
shippers, looking west to Namibia
may be a better option than going
west to Durban.