The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) has unveiled major development projects that are destined to change the face of the Port of Walvis Bay, most notably the deepening of the harbour.
The addition of a bulk and break handling facilities, a floating dock, syncrolift ship and rig and extension of container terminals are among projects envisaged for the Port of Walvis Bay.
The initiatives are part of the ports authority's master plan that spans from 2008 to 2012, and was unveiled to stakeholders and the media yesterday.
The proposed projects come about because of the heavy demand placed on the Namibian port, as it gradually becomes a trade partner with African countries that rely on it for the import and export of goods.
With the proposed projects, the port intends to serve a population of about 190 million within the SADC region alone. Other markets that will also benefit from the envisaged initiatives include West Africa, Europe, the Far East and South America.
The projects will kick off with the expansion of the harbour and the development of a new container terminal, which will include new ship-to-shore cranes capable of unloading containers from large container vessels.
Rubber tyre gantries, with the ability to stack containers 5 metres high, will speed up the unloading and sorting of containers and improve efficiency. The second phase will be a further expansion of the terminal to increase capacity to above 500000 'TEU'. The port will also be capable of handling vessels with a draft of up to 15 metres.
The floating dock will host a ship and oil rig repair facility and will have a capacity of 8000 tonnes while the syncrolift will boast a capacity of 2000 tonnes and will be suitably located in proximity to the Angolan oil fields. A fishing industry quay, which is also envisaged, will boast a new cold storage facility with a capacity of 25000 cubic metres. It will have a fish handling and bunkering facilities.
The current berths, 0, 1, 2 and 3 will be expanded and upgraded with ship-to-shore cranes and an efficient RTG Terminal Transportation Operation.
Another major development that will form part of the master plan will be the construction of a waterfront, which will be carried out in conjunction with the municipality of Walvis Bay. The proposed waterfront development, which is expected to boost local and international tourism, will include a cruise liner terminal, small craft basin, hotels, shopping malls, entertainment centres and sporting amenities.
Walvis Bay's ideal location and proximity to many major tourism attractions such as the Namib Desert, unspoilt conservation areas and internationally acclaimed reserves such as the Skeleton Coast Park and the historic town of Swakopmund, makes the proposed development feasible.
Completion of the proposed projects is expected by 2012. Construction commences in August this year.
Namport's Managing Director, Sebby Kankodi, confirmed that tenders for the projects would be put out in June.
The ports authority is expected to further deliberate on the impact of these projects with concerned stakeholders and group. One such stakeholder will be the Roads Authority in anticipation of a rise in traffic along the road leading to Walvis Bay. Stakeholders have called for the expansion of the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay Road into a dual carriageway to make Namport's development more feasible. Another option, which also came up at the unveiling ceremony would be to construct another road behind the dune belt stretch between the two major coastal towns.
The addition of a bulk and break handling facilities, a floating dock, syncrolift ship and rig and extension of container terminals are among projects envisaged for the Port of Walvis Bay.
The initiatives are part of the ports authority's master plan that spans from 2008 to 2012, and was unveiled to stakeholders and the media yesterday.
The proposed projects come about because of the heavy demand placed on the Namibian port, as it gradually becomes a trade partner with African countries that rely on it for the import and export of goods.
With the proposed projects, the port intends to serve a population of about 190 million within the SADC region alone. Other markets that will also benefit from the envisaged initiatives include West Africa, Europe, the Far East and South America.
The projects will kick off with the expansion of the harbour and the development of a new container terminal, which will include new ship-to-shore cranes capable of unloading containers from large container vessels.
Rubber tyre gantries, with the ability to stack containers 5 metres high, will speed up the unloading and sorting of containers and improve efficiency. The second phase will be a further expansion of the terminal to increase capacity to above 500000 'TEU'. The port will also be capable of handling vessels with a draft of up to 15 metres.
The floating dock will host a ship and oil rig repair facility and will have a capacity of 8000 tonnes while the syncrolift will boast a capacity of 2000 tonnes and will be suitably located in proximity to the Angolan oil fields. A fishing industry quay, which is also envisaged, will boast a new cold storage facility with a capacity of 25000 cubic metres. It will have a fish handling and bunkering facilities.
The current berths, 0, 1, 2 and 3 will be expanded and upgraded with ship-to-shore cranes and an efficient RTG Terminal Transportation Operation.
Another major development that will form part of the master plan will be the construction of a waterfront, which will be carried out in conjunction with the municipality of Walvis Bay. The proposed waterfront development, which is expected to boost local and international tourism, will include a cruise liner terminal, small craft basin, hotels, shopping malls, entertainment centres and sporting amenities.
Walvis Bay's ideal location and proximity to many major tourism attractions such as the Namib Desert, unspoilt conservation areas and internationally acclaimed reserves such as the Skeleton Coast Park and the historic town of Swakopmund, makes the proposed development feasible.
Completion of the proposed projects is expected by 2012. Construction commences in August this year.
Namport's Managing Director, Sebby Kankodi, confirmed that tenders for the projects would be put out in June.
The ports authority is expected to further deliberate on the impact of these projects with concerned stakeholders and group. One such stakeholder will be the Roads Authority in anticipation of a rise in traffic along the road leading to Walvis Bay. Stakeholders have called for the expansion of the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay Road into a dual carriageway to make Namport's development more feasible. Another option, which also came up at the unveiling ceremony would be to construct another road behind the dune belt stretch between the two major coastal towns.