STAFF REPORTER - WALVIS BAY
Coleman Transport was recently contracted by a local uranium mine to transport 42 000 tons of sulphur from the port of Walvis Bay to the mine.
The cargo, worth an estimated N$84.3 million, arrived from Russia on the bulk carrier Yi Long Shan that docked at Walvis Bay recently.
A part of the consignment of sulphur - 17 000 tons - was originally destined for the Zambian market, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic it was made available to the local market.
Namport acting CEO Kavin Harry welcomed the business.
“This is a very good development in terms of volumes and for the country's economy. We are looking forward to similar shipments arriving and the handling thereof,” Harry said.
Yi Long Shan
The Yi Long Shan is the biggest sulphur-carrying vessel to dock at the port of Walvis Bay.
The bulk carrier was built in 2013 and sails under the flag of Hong Kong. It has a carrying capacity of 56 637 deadweight tonnage and is 189.99 metres in length with a width of 32.26 metres.
The first shipment of sulphur, weighing 31 000 tons, arrived in August 2019, followed by a second shipment of 33 000 tons in December 2019 and a third consignment of 22 000 tons in January.
Boost for economy
Coleman Transport manager Johan Oosthuizen said that it would take two weeks and an estimated 1 250 truckloads covering a distance of over 300 000 kilometres to offload the cargo and transport it to its final destination.
“This translates into approximately 3 000 tons of sulphur being offloaded and transported per day. We are making use of local transport companies from as far as Rundu to assist with the transportation of this cargo.”
Oosthuizen hailed the exercise as a boost for the economy, especially now and in light of the country's borders being closed.
The company provides temporary employment to 40 local people in different capacities during the offloading period.
Legacy
Founded by Ronnie Coleman in 1993, the company has grown from humble beginnings into the road cargo transport and logistics solution of choice for mining companies in Namibia, as well as other industries requiring inward transport of consumables.
With its headquarters in Windhoek and depots at Rosh Pinah, Walvis Bay, Tsumeb, Springbok, Gauteng and Cape Town, Coleman Transport is no stranger to the handling and transportation of sulphur, with over 24 years of experience in the field.
The company is at the forefront of transporting quarterly shipments of sulphur arriving at Walvis Bay.
Growth
Coleman Transport is currently in the process of constructing a 10 000m² warehouse facility to store 60 000 tons of sulphur, mining reagents and mining repair equipment for import and export purposes. Storage space at the warehouse in Arandis, which is strategically placed for easy rail access, will mainly be used for sulphur in transit to the Zambian and DRC markets.
SOURCE: Namibian Sun
https://www.namibiansun.com/news/massive-shipment-of-sulphur-arrives2020-07-13/
.jpg)
