Two new services for Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay’s increasing importance as a gateway port is seen in the introduction of two new services. Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), which will be represented by Ocean Liner Services in Namibia, has started the Indian Ocean Islands, South Africa, West Africa dedicated container service (ISW). The first vessel on this service is due to depart Singapore on May 8, and will be calling at the Port of Walvis Bay with a frequency of 10 days, according to Agnetha Mouton of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group. “We investigated the current and likely future trade movements and considered what would be the most beneficial for our clients,” said MOL general manager liner division TK Konishi. “With these changes we can provide many service routes between West Africa and several areas in the world.” This service provides an ideal opportunity for the shipment of minerals from the Copperbelt through the Port of Walvis Bay, along the Trans Caprivi Corridor to the international markets. This is a clear sign of growing confidence in utilising the Walvis Bay Corridors by Angola, Botswana, DRC, Gauteng, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with more than 55 000 tons moving along the Walvis Bay Corridors over the past ten years, says Mouton. Maersk Line and sister line Safmarine started a weekly direct import service, the Samba service east bound from the Middle East to Walvis Bay during the first week of April. According to Mouton, this will speed up the rotation from nine to eight weeks. The majority of the consignments that benefit from the service are destined for Angola. There has been a significant increase in the transportation of vehicles, furniture and machinery destined for Angola along the Trans Cunene Corridor through the Port of Walvis Bay, she says.