by Adam Hartman
THE Namibian Ports Authority at Walvis Bay last week recorded 413 trucks moving through its gates in a single day – either delivering or picking up cargo from the port terminals.
Namport terminal manager Richard Ibwima said this was a milestone in the port's activity and bears directly on the efforts and resources invested by the entity in technology.
He further accredited the achievement of this milestone to the dedication, teamwork and constant communication among stakeholders who are involved across the value-chain and the timely attendance to all trucks that visited the port.
“We are currently engaged in a semi-gate automated project that will further enhance our efficiencies and better our service offerings to all our port terminal clients, and also ensure better planning and in turn serve the trucking community optimally,” said Ibwima.
When Namport constructed its new container terminal, which was officially inaugurated in August 2019, the upgrade of operating systems that were to be used at the new terminal were also required, and it is due to this investment in technology that the truckers can be guaranteed smooth, hassle-free and seamless services.
Ibwima said Namport is committed to offering continued superior customer service to the trucking community and therefore truckers are encouraged to make use of Namport's services as the company offers up to date facilities and a customer friendly environment at all times.
In the meantime, Namport also welcomed the 335-metre-long Maersk Sheerness back to the port on 19 November. The vessel sailed from Luanda, Angola, and will be heading to Port Klang, Malaysia, after discharging 439 containers and loading 2 642 containers at Walvis Bay.
The duration of the process is anticipated to last approximately 60 hours. Namport's commercial executive, Immanuel !Hanabeb, said the port is also preparing for the maiden call of the Wide Juliet container vessel, next Tuesday from Luanda, which will be discharging 200 containers at Walvis Bay.
The Wide Juliet has a carrying capacity of 5 380 containers and will be part of Namport's regular visitors.
“The inauguration of the new container terminal was a game changer for port business, allowing its capacity to handle container ships with more than 12 metres of draft,” said !Hanabeb.
“The presence of these vessels is testament that the ports authority is well on its way to attaining its vision of becoming the best-performing world-class port in Africa.”
SOURCE: Namibian
https://www.namibian.com.na/96801/read/Harbour-tech-development-streamlines-truck-traffic
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