Phase 1of the R7-billion Liquid Bulk Terminal (LBT) – designated mainly for hydro-carbons – at the port of Walvis Bay will open next year, according to Elias Mwenyo, senior manager: commercial at the Namibian Port Authority (Namport).
Speaking at the Special Interest Group (SIG) Transport Forum held at the Transnet Maritime School of Excellence in Durban yesterday (Thursday), Mwenyo pointed out that, once completed, the terminal would offer two 60 000-deadweight tonne (DWT) berths. This project was being driven by Namibia’s Ministry of Mines, he added.
Furthermore, he said the new Walvis Bay Container Terminal (WBCT) was set to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2018. “It is the biggest contract ever in the history of Namibia, signed with 20 contractors at a total value of US$226 million dollars,” said Mwenyo.
He told FTW Online that the port was also investing in its first ship-to-shore cranes at the WBCT to improve productivity and to better manage weather conditions.
“We have also just launched an expression of interest for the development of a marina at the port,” commented Mwenyo, noting that two major shipping lines – Maersk and CMA CGM – were using the port as a transhipment hub. “We are becoming one of the big guys in the Southern African Development Community region – fast on our way to realising our ambitions of establishing Namibia as a strong logistics hub.”
Johny Smith, CEO of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), added that skills development in the region was a core component of developing the country’s logistics capabilities, pointing out that while infrastructure development was a key focus, there was renewed focus on building the skills, knowledge and expertise to back that up.
