Victor Ashikoto

Namibian Ports Authority - Namport

The Namibian Ports Authority - Namport (www.namport.com) is a state-owned entity founded in 1994 after Namibia's independence in 1990. From humble beginnings as fishing harbours in Walvis Bay and Luderitz, the company has embraced the surge in the economies of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the past two decades. Today, industrial and commercial activities are the biggest industries in Walvis Bay. The Port of Walvis Bay is situated at the West Coast of Africa and provides an easier and much faster transit route between Southern Africa, Europe and the Americas. The Port of Lüderitz, located in the Southern Coast of Namibia caters for Southern Namibia as well as providing access to markets in the Northern Cape of South Africa. Namport was instrumental in establishing the Walvis Bay Corridor Group which seeks to ensure sustainable cargo for the countries of the SADC region and provide the best means of access for their markets. Namport has capacities exceeding 6 million tonnes per annum and over 750 000 TEU's. Walvis Bay is recognised as a transhipment hub for the entire west coast of Africa serving the major container liners of the region in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. The Ports of Walvis Bay and Luderitz are positioned for the preferred access to markets in Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and Botswana. These destinations are all well served by corridors established by the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (www.wbcg.com.na):