Logistics lines
between the west
coast of Africa and
the Far East are to
become greener.
Long-term monitoring
and research into the
ecology of the Walvis Bay
Lagoon and the impact
of the port development
will be conducted by the
University of Namibia
(UNAM) in partnership
with the National Ports
Authority of Namibia
(Namport).
There are direct calls by
Maersk Line on Walvis Bay
from the East.
Speaking at the signing
of a memorandum of
understanding (MOU)
between the two
organisations, Namport
chief executive officer
Bisey Uirab said the MOU
was aimed at establishing
a co-operative research
relationship to preserve
the natural heritage of the
lagoon.
“Namibia’s Blue Economy
(our seas) provides infinite
economic benefits to many
of our local industries,
such as
the fishing
sector, whale
and bird
watching,
cruise
tourism and
our ports,
but also the
Walvis Bay
Lagoon as
it is among
the most
productive
benthic
ecosystems
at the coast.
“Hence our deliberate
undertaking to form this
partnership with the
University of Namibia
to enjoy access to the
university’s research
capacity and to benefit
from performed research,
which we as Namport
cannot do ourselves,” he
said.
A new US$86-million
container
terminal is
on target to
be completed
by May 2017,
according to
the developer
China
Harbour and
Engineering
Company.
It is being
constructed
to support
the Namibian
government’s
plans to position the
country as the gateway to
the land-locked Southern
African Development
Community countries.
“Namport has over the
years invested millions
of dollars to ensure a
sustainable co-existence
between the Port of
Walvis Bay, and the
Walvis Bay Lagoon
(which is also one of
the most important
wetlands of southern
Africa, and a
hibernation area
for thousands of
migratory birds).
The R3-million
programme will
run over three years, and
will be used to position
UNAM in the region.
INSERT & CAPTION
Namibia’s Blue
Economy provides
infinite economic
benefits to many of
our local industries.
– Bisey Uirab
Namport partners with university to preserve Walvis Bay Lagoon
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