New computer information system handles
customs clearances, invoicing and tracking
THERE'S MORE steam at the port of Walvis Bay in Namibia, as what Namport marketing manager Jerome Mouton describes as its trend-setting development fires-up the boilers of its new container terminal this year.
We will have the official launch of the new terminal at the end of April, he told FTW. This with a new computer information system bought from Hamburg in Germany - handling customs clearances, invoicing, tracking and all.
And container capacity throughput has been growing to a most recently estimated rate of around 25 000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) a year. Part of this growing volume Mouton attributes to road operators using the Trans-Kalahari Highway to haul growing numbers of containers on the Namibia-Gauteng leg.
The Trans-Caprivi section - linking up into the northern neighbouring states - has had money allocated to its construction funds by German donors. But, said Mouton, there is one bridge into Zambia still to be finished, and it will take about seven-to-eight months until the funds are converted into the final construction of this entry point into the northern area.
However, the growing volumes have been enough for shipping line Maersk - the only direct deep-sea caller - to increase its schedule frequency in August to weekly, from the previous two-weekly call rate.
However, added Mouton, the port authorities are talking to three other large lines as well - although they will remain nameless until they wish to publicly declare themselves.
He also boasts of three other major developments that Namport has under discussion - which, he added, are likely to introduce three new tenants to the port of Walvis Bay.
By Alan Peat
