Walvis Bay expected to play bigger future role

Having direct calls at all
four of the main ports
serving Zambia and
Southern
Democratic
Republic of
Congo (DRC)
gives Maersk
Line a unique
helicopter
view of the
ebb and f low
of freight
volumes through the different
gateways.
“We are seeing total
throughput decreasing through
Dar es Salaam for both
import and exports,”
says Bruce Marshall,
Maersk Line’s sales and
country representative for
the southern African
hinterland territories of
Zambia, Zimbabwe and
Malawi.
More reliable road and rail
links between the Copperbelt
and Durban, Walvis Bay and
Beira combined with
better efficiencies
in some of these
ports may,
however, make
it quicker to
use one of these
routes.
As much as 85% of the cost
of importing or exporting a
container between Zambia and
Asia is incurred on the land-side
transport, according to Maersk
Line’s calculations.
There are other factors at play
as well.
According to a report in
the Daily News of Tanzania,
exporters are also moving away
from Dar es Salaam due to the
proposed introduction of Value
Added Tax (VAT) on transit
goods by the Tanzanian revenue
authorities.
First mooted in 2009 the VAT
is officially due to be implemented
in the 2015/2016 financial year.
Shippers have also moved
to other ports because the
Tanzanian road authority
Tanroad has banned the use of
interlinks.
“We are getting more
enquiries for Walvis Bay and
do expect this port to play a
larger role in the future,” says
Marshall.
Maersk is one of the few
shipping lines to offer a direct
call from the Far East to Walvis
Bay.
The shipping line is also
helping importers and exporters
in the region to weather the
current economic turmoil and
to select the most cost-effective
routes by offering end-to-end
services which include inland
transport.
An example is a partnership
with logistics service provider
Manica and rail operator
Grindrod to move copper and
chemicals for Konkola Copper
Mines (KCM), one of Zambia’s
four major copper producers.
Maersk is also offering a
through bill of lading through
the four ports, and has
introduced a vessel and rail
service between Durban and
Ndola.
“We are working hard
to round-trip our containers,
working with customers
through supply-chain reviews
to try and unlock more roundtripping
opportunities, making
servicing the inland locations
more sustainable,” says
Marshall.
INSERT & CAPTION
As much as 85% of the cost
of importing or exporting
a container between
Zambia and Asia is
incurred on the land-side
transport.
– Bruce Marshall