STATE-owned Namport's new N$4 billion (US$289.017) container terminal in Namibia is scheduled to begin operations on August 24. The facility will raise box-handling capacity to 1,005,000 TEU, up from 355,000 TEU at present. The old terminal will be used as a multipurpose terminal.
An external memo from Namport's acting CEO Kavin Harry to staff earlier this month lays out the plans for the transfer. Firstly, container operations at the port will be halted on August 17 to start relocations to the new terminal, reported Hellenic Shipping News.
The equipment to be relocated include rubber-tyred gantries and mobile harbour cranes, while reach stackers, haulers and forklifts will move the containers.
'The relocation will in itself be a huge logistical undertaking, and due to the complexities of this exercise, it is required to shut down the container operations,' Mr Harry was quoted as saying. 'It will be our aim to commence operations earlier than [24 August] if the actual relocation is completed earlier.'
The duration of the exercise will depend on the amount of containers to be relocated, however, it's expected to take three to seven days.
Namport manager for business development Elias Mwenyo told The Namibian that there are 4,000 containers at the old site. Some 30 per cent of these are import containers, which need to be collected by customers.
No exports will be received during the relocation period to avoid congestion and allow for a smooth relocation. Non-containerised cargo operations will not be affected.
WORLD SHIPPING
An external memo from Namport's acting CEO Kavin Harry to staff earlier this month lays out the plans for the transfer. Firstly, container operations at the port will be halted on August 17 to start relocations to the new terminal, reported Hellenic Shipping News.
The equipment to be relocated include rubber-tyred gantries and mobile harbour cranes, while reach stackers, haulers and forklifts will move the containers.
'The relocation will in itself be a huge logistical undertaking, and due to the complexities of this exercise, it is required to shut down the container operations,' Mr Harry was quoted as saying. 'It will be our aim to commence operations earlier than [24 August] if the actual relocation is completed earlier.'
The duration of the exercise will depend on the amount of containers to be relocated, however, it's expected to take three to seven days.
Namport manager for business development Elias Mwenyo told The Namibian that there are 4,000 containers at the old site. Some 30 per cent of these are import containers, which need to be collected by customers.
No exports will be received during the relocation period to avoid congestion and allow for a smooth relocation. Non-containerised cargo operations will not be affected.
WORLD SHIPPING