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.