JAMES HALL SHIPPERS OF perishable goods from South Africa to overseas destinations using Cape Town and other ports should consider looking to the east, especially Namibia’s port at Luderitz. Driving home the message were executives from the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) on a working tour of South African perishable goods exporters during August. “We sent a management team to South Africa to brief businesses about our ports, and we are especially interested in moving perishables,” Jo-Ann Stevens, corporate communications officer told FTW. Grapes, fruits and citrus are three commodities in particular on the team’s shopping list of potential clients. Luderitz is being promoted as a costefficient port for SA perishables. “For perishables coming from Cape Town to Upington it makes good sense to use Luderitz and even Walvis Bay. We are doing a lot of work at Luderitz,” said Stevens. From 2001 to 2005, cargo handled at Luderitz more than doubled, from 163 618 tonnes to 380 397 tonnes. Walvis Bay handled over three million tonnes in 2005. Congestion and weatherrelated slowdowns in operations at Namibia’s ports are less than at Cape Town, she said. Presently Luderitz can accommodate perishables in a 2500m2 warehouse. The port’s reefer facility has capaciy for 72 containers. Walvis Bay port has cold storage of 14 000 m2, and reefer slots for 500 refrigerated containers.
