According to the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) the turn of events involving the COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity for Namport to provide berthing/parking space for the empty cruise ships off the two ports at designated points of anchorage.
“Having conducted detailed reviews of procedures to be put in place in hosting the said ships, we have concluded that the move would neither contradict nor contravene any of the existing measures implemented nationally to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 suffice to say all existing COVID-19 mitigation,” the company said in a statement.
“The cruise ships will join offshore supply vessels and oil rigs which, as a result of the fall in oil prices, have also been recalled from the oil fields and are being safely stored at anchorage at the port of Walvis Bay.
“Measures by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and Namport will be strictly complied with when dealing with such passenger vessels at anchorage. We therefore kindly request and urge members of the public not to panic when they see these vessels at anchorage either and or off the ports of Lüderitz and Walvis Bay.”
Asked whether any cruise ships were lining up to idle off Walvis Bay or Lüderitz, we were told that several enquiries had been made.
SOURCE: Africa Ports and Ships
https://africaports.co.za/2020/05/24/africa-ports-ships-maritime-news-25-may-2020/
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