Aerial view of Walvis Port in Namibia (Image: Getty)
With the monumental movement of the Namibia maritime sector, the port of Walvis has made a major change and is positioned as one of the most advanced container terminals in South Africa.
The newly expanded terminals built between 2014 and 2019 are currently being operated completely, revolutionized the capabilities of cargo processing, as a logistics power in the South Africa development community (SADC). I am enhancing the role of.
The extension entrusted in August 2019 has built the most advanced facility on the 40 -hectares land regenerated from the sea, and has formed a part of nearly 24 billion investments.
With the support of Africa's development banks, Zar has provided 2,982 million loans, which account for more than 70 % of the total funds, but the terminal is equipped to satisfy the growing demand for regional trade.
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Africa, Namibia Walvis Port (Image: Getty)
Large -scale infrastructure boost
This ambitious project contained more than 3.9 million cubic meters. It was reused for land reclamation, contained a 600 -meter quay construction, 304,000 square meters paved surface, workshops and many management buildings.
A new one -kilometer road, a 2.3 km railway line, and an essential service network have been installed, and the terminal function has been further enhanced.
Probably the most notable addition is the installation of the four cutting -edge ships to the shore crane, and the key to the terminal operation is now.
With a further leap to modernization, the electric infrastructure of the terminal has been upgraded to ensure smooth and efficient action.
Improving capacity and shortening waiting time
Oil excavation device in Walvis Bay Port in Namibia (Image: Getty)
The impact of these developments is great. The expanded terminal capacity has increased rapidly from 355,000 TEU (21 feet -equivalent unit) to 750,000 TEUs every year.
The waiting time for ships has been reduced to less than 8 hours, which has been significantly improved since the previous delay, but the container transport time has decreased from 5 days to 9.5 days.
Demand has risen remarkably due to the shortening of this waiting time. According to African Development Banks published in September 2020, demand has increased by 8 % following the terminal trial run.
The rapid increase in cargo volume and revenue is expected to have an annual growth rate of 5 % in the next few years.
Supporting trade in southern Africa
In addition to supporting Namibia's own economy, the expansion of the port plays an important role in linking the SADC region to the world trade route.
The facility is now an important maritime access point for countries such as Botwana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawui, all of which are traveling across the borders, relying on the port of Walvis Bay.
The terminal is completed to the employment of seven new pilots, including one woman, and 26 ships on the coast, to introduce a comprehensive approach adopted in this large project. It brought the effect.
Future vision
This transformed development is consistent with the five strategic priority of African Development Banks, focusing on strengthening regional integration, promoting sustainable infrastructure development, and promoting in -African trade.
Walvis Bay Port is currently an important player in South African trade infrastructure, not the gateway to Namibia. With the successful completion of this expansion, Namibia is ready as a maritime leader and is ready to satisfy the more and more connected world economic demands.
In the future, the port of Walvis Bay is growing continuously and provides a robust and future proof platform to support the larger ambience of economic integration and trade diversification.
As the harbor continues to grow, the extremely important role in the logistics network in South Africa is becoming more and more clear, and as it is, as an important player on the Namibia world stage.
