April 2011 - Malnor

18652 Export 04/2011
Port of the Month
Trusted partners:
Walvis Bay and Maersk
“ Our partnership has led to many improvements and development
a state-owned entity, Namport is probably
one of the best port Authorities to work with
within Africa.” “As
This comment, made by Maersk Line’s
Namibian Country Manager Dries Oberholzer, is based
predominantly on commercial considerations and the port
authority’s “ability to listen and find a common way
forward”.
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initiatives resulting in continuous volume growth. ”
“Namport has done all the right things: from deepening
their draft (14,5 metres), investing in IT (NAVIS), proper
handling equipment (RTGs and reach stackers) to expanding
their storage capacity and improving their quay wall and
berthing lengths. The next step for them should be to put
measures in place to deliver sustainable high productivity
and efficiencies to their liner customers.”
Maersk Line was one of the first shipping lines to recognise
Walvis Bay’s potential as a hub port as far back as 2004.
“Our partnership has led to many improvements
and development initiatives resulting in continuous
volume growth for them,” explains Oberholzer.
“We saw an increase in containerised (including
transhipments) cargo of 26% from 2008 to 2009,
but this amount decreased in 2010 with 16%”.
The decrease can be attributed to the slow trading
conditions in Angola, affecting both imports
(destined for Southern Angola) and transhipment
cargo that is normally feedered into Angola.
“Obviously when competing for import, export and
transshipment volumes any inefficiencies/
efficiencies in competing ports has an effect on
the way the Port of Walvis Bay is viewed by the
various shipping lines and their end customers.
However, all the container shipping lines (under
the banner of CLOF) work closely with Namport
and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group to ensure that
we improve the port and corridors and the
movement of cargo through them.
“Maersk Line are indeed very focused on the
environment and we are glad to say that so is
Namport. They have very high standards in this
regard, with dedicated staff overseeing the wellbeing
of the port and its immediate environment
at all times,” concludes Oberholzer.
Maersk Line will soon be launching the new
WAFMAX vessels. These will be largest ever to be
deployed in West Africa and Walvis Bay will be the
first port of call on their rotation. This in itself
typifies the relationship between Maersk Line and
Namport and the trust shown in the port
to deliver what is required for us to be able to
grow our business. ◆
EXPORT & IMPORT SA // APRIL 2011