Namport Celebrates 30 Years

The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, after being commissioned in 1994. The celebrations kicked off on Friday in Lüderitz and continued in Walvis Bay on Monday. Andrew Kanime, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Namport, stated that the milestone of the 30th anniversary is not just a reflection of growth from the formative stages, but also a testament to the incredible team and work that has cumulatively contributed to the establishment of Namport as a mature institution over the years. “Together, we have built a strong foundation and a solid institution, anchored in our values of caring, connectedness, commitment, collaboration, and creativity. It remains important that we continue to nurture Namport for another 30 years of growth and prosperity.” Over the past 30 years, Namport has grown in leaps and bounds. Starting in 1994, Namport’s asset base grew from N$93 million to N$6.9 billion, while the staff complement increased from 318 to 820. Revenue also grew from N$57 million to N$1.7 billion. “Additionally, operating profit increased from N$14 million to N$650 million. TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) grew from 20,000 to 171,000 containers, peaking at 330,000 in 2012. Bulk and break-bulk cargo grew from 1.7 million tons to over 8 million tonnes per annum.”HISTORY The Port of Lüderitz was established in 1883, initially serving as a key harbour for German colonial interests in what was then known as German South-West Africa. It was referred to as "Lüderitzbucht" during its early years, named after the merchant Adolf Lüderitz, who played a significant role in its development. The port’s strategic location facilitated trade routes between Europe and southern Africa, particularly for goods such as diamonds and ores.In contrast, the Port of Walvis Bay has a slightly different history. It was officially declared a port in 1840 but had been used informally long before that. Initially referred to simply as "Walvis," which means "whale" in Dutch, it primarily served as a whaling station before evolving into a significant commercial port. Its deep-water capabilities made it an ideal location for larger vessels, enhancing its importance over time. Although Namibia gained independence from South African rule in 1990, Walvis Bay only became part of Namibia in 1994 following extensive negotiations with South Africa, led by our current president, Dr. Nangolo Mbumba. The reintegration of Walvis Bay into Namibia resulted in the establishment of Namport through an Act of Parliament, under the leadership of founding President, Dr. Sam Nujoma. “This is how Namport was born and was hence mandated to manage and control all ports and lighthouses in Namibia, driven by a vision to enhance maritime trade and ensure efficient port operations. Our founding principles were centred around delivering world-class services while promoting sustainable growth within our communities,” Kanime added. FUTUREKanime stated that they envision further growth and the potential for our ports to serve not only the immediate Namibian market but also the wider region. “Leveraging our strategic shift to a landlord model, we will actively pursue partnerships to develop and acquire sufficient and adequate port infrastructure, equipment, and systems to cater to the growing needs of our esteemed port users and customers. As we navigate the competitive global maritime industry, it is imperative that we not only remain competitive on the international stage but also contribute positively to Namibia’s socio-economic landscape.” He added that this commitment requires continuous investment in state-of-the-art equipment, streamlined processes, innovative logistic solutions, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement among the workforce. “This will not only enable us to enhance our operational efficiency, which is the cornerstone of our success, but it will also make our ports competitive, thereby enabling us to attain our vision of becoming the best-performing seaports in Africa. We are therefore planning significant investments in infrastructure, equipment, systems, and people for both the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Lüderitz. All of these will enable us to augment capacity and enhance operational efficiencies and safety of navigation at all our ports, thereby positioning Namibia as the international logistics hub of choice within the region.”CONCESSION With the upcoming commencement of the concession of the new container terminal set for 1 November, the dredging of the Port of Walvis Bay’s entrance channel will be realized. This will represent a paradigm shift in the vessel handling capacity and container volume throughput at the Port. “With the concession, we look forward to a significant ramp-up in volumes, an increase in both vessel calls and vessel sizes, which will be key in increasing our connectivity, competitiveness, and attractiveness to customers locally and in the region.”“It remains our duty and priority to see the 30-year-old Namport through the next 30 years and beyond so that it can continue to deliver on its mandate to the Namibian nation and our valued customers. Once again, thank you to each and every one of you for your selfless contributions and commitment to Namport over the years. Namport is what it is today, all because of you.”

Namport Celebrates 30 Years

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Namport Celebrates 30 Years

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