STAFF REPORTER - WALVIS BAY
A total of 2 427 vehicles have been offloaded at the port of Walvis Bay from roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels from the beginning of 2020.
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) said imports continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic, which has negatively affected the movement of goods in all countries.
Namport is expecting another 12 ro-ro vessels this year.
Glovis Spirit
The latest ro-ro to dock in Namibia's prime port was the Glovis Spirit, which arrived and discharged over 300 vehicles destined for various inland countries.
The vehicle carrier, which was built in 2013 and sails under the flag of Marshall Islands, recently left for Port Elizabeth, from where it will sail to Vigo in Spain.
It has a carrying capacity of 20 138 deadweight tonnage, an overall length of 199.97 metres and a width of 35 metres.
With the inauguration of the new container terminal in August 2019, space was created at the old container terminal that is currently being utilised as a multipurpose terminal. Vehicles are also parked in this area for security and safety.
Ro-ro
Ro-ro vessels are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers and railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle, such as a self-propelled modular transporter.
These vessels have either built-in or shore-based ramps or ferry slips that allow cargo to be efficiently rolled on and off the vessel when in port.
SOURCE: Namibian Sun
https://www.namibiansun.com/news/2-427-vehicles-offloaded-in-walvis-bay2020-07-13/
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