Source: Port Strategy

Construction on the new container terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay, Namibia is more than 85% complete leading the port closer towards its goal of speeding up global transit, meeting regional freight demand and helping Namibia becoming a regional logistical hub.

Walvis Bay is Namibia’s only deepwater port able to handle large ships and the container terminal, being constructed on a 40Ha of land reclaimed from the sea and due for completion in June 2019, is expected to lead to more and sustained trade between the South African Development Community and the rest of the world, said African Development Bank Group.

Philip Coetzee, general manager at Woker Freight Service, said: “I think the expansion is very positive news for the industry and for us as a business. It promises increases in business volumes, cargo flows, and additional commodities coming through. So, it is definitely a positive outcome.”

Supported by a loan from the African Development Bank in 2013 of ZAR2,982m (approximately US$300m), or 87.6 % of the costs, the container terminal is expected to increase the container handling capacity from the current 355,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (teus) to up to 1,005,000 teus.

Additional capacity will also lower the transport costs of goods purchased in Namibia and neighbouring countries.

The Bank’s support will also finance the purchase of up-to-date port equipment and training for pilots and operators at the new terminal.