Namport e-Newsletter

November and December 2020

Port of Walvis Bay Port Users Honoured

The Namibian Ports Authority celebrated the efforts of its clients at a function held in their honour in November.

The function which has become an annual occurrence on the Port Authority’s calendar aims at acknowledging clients that have set themselves apart from others by being top performers in their categories of operations.

The Clients that received certificates in no particular order are:

Top 5 Revenue Based Category

1. Woker Freight Services (Pty) Ltd
2. Logistics Support Services (Pty) Ltd
3. Sturrock Grindrod Maritine Namibia
4. Manica Group Namibia (Pty) Ltd
5. Maersk Namibia (Pty) Ltd

Top 3 volume based Category

1. Walvis Bay Salt Refiners (Pty) Ltd
2. Engen (Pty) Ltd (not present at function)
3. Puma Energy Namibia (Pty) Ltd

Top 3 SMEs Category

1. Dreamland Investment
2. Cross Border Vehicle Traders
3. Transnational Logistics & Investment

Under normal circumstances, a similar event would have been hosted at the Port of Lüderitz, but due to the presence of COVID-19 pandemic, the entity decided to rather cancel the function and the winners will be awarded on an individual basis.

Namport breaks a record in handling 413 trucks in a day

The Namibian Ports Authority continues to deliver on its promise of service above self to its valuable clients. The Ports Authority last week recorded 413 truck visits in one day, which seamlessly went through its terminal gates as the trucks were either delivering or picking up cargo from the Port terminals.

This is the first of its kind and it bears directly on the efforts and resources invested by the entity in technology. Talking to Mr Richard Mutonga Ibwima, Manager Terminals at Namport, he said that the “increase of truck visits is attributed non-adherence of vessels to the arrival schedule at the other ports.

He further accredited the achievement of this great 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 terminals clients and also ensure better planning and in turn serve the trucking community optimally.” 

When the Namibian Ports Authority constructed the New Container Terminal, which was officially inaugurated in August 2019, the upgrade of operating systems that were to be used at the new terminal was also required, and it is due to this investment in technology that the truckers can be guaranteed smooth, hassle-free and seamless services.

The entity is committed to offering continued superior customer service to the trucking community and therefor truckers encouraged to make use of Namport’s services as the company offers up to date facilities and a customer-friendly environment at all times.

The Maersk Sheerness makes a return call to the Port of Walvis Bay

The Namibian Ports Authority once again welcomed the 335.41 meters long Maersk Sheerness back at the Port of Walvis Bay on 19 November 2020. 

The vessel sailed from Luanda, Angola and will be heading to the Port Klang, Malaysia after discharging 439 containers and loading 2642 containers at the Port of Walvis Bay. The duration of the process was anticipated to last approximately 60 hours.

Interesting to note is that one of the gigantic STS cranes was required to conduct 853 moves for the entire operation. This is a first time since the acquisition of the STS Cranes in February 2019. In the past, the four STS cranes had only been utilized for operations that required a maximum of 46 moves.

The Port also welcomed the Wide Juliet container vessel for her maiden call on 24 November 2020 from Luanda, Angola and discharged 200 containers. The Wide Juliet which has a carrying capacity of 5380 TEUs will in future be part of the rotation with Walvis Bay as a Port of call.

Since the inauguration of the New Container Terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay in August 2019, the terminal has become a game-changer for Port business, allowing its capacity to handle container ships with more than 12 meters of draft.

The presence of these vessels is a testament that the Ports Authority is well on its way to attaining its vision of becoming the best performing world-class port in Africa.

WHO Advice

Don’t forget the basics of good hygiene

• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. This eliminates germs including viruses that may be on your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately into a closed bin and wash your hands. By following good ‘respiratory hygiene’, you protect the people around you from viruses, which cause colds, flu and COVID-19.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently especially those which are regularly touched, such as door handles, faucets and phone screens.