The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has strongly disputed recent claims that congestion at the Port of Walvis Bay is responsible for vessel omissions, stating that the terminal is operating well below capacity and remains fully capable of handling additional cargo and vessel traffic.
In a statement issued by Namport Executive: Commercial, Elias Mwenyo, the authority said assertions linking recent vessel omissions to congestion at the Walvis Bay Container Terminal are “factually incorrect”.
According to Namport, the omission of several vessels from calling at Walvis Bay was instead the result of delays experienced at other ports within shipping routes, which prompted shipping lines to implement schedule recovery measures.
The authority cited three vessels previously scheduled to call at Walvis Bay: MAERSK SYDNEY, APL SANTIAGO, and COSCO KOREA.
Namport explained that MAERSK SYDNEY had already encountered delays before reaching Walvis Bay, having departed Luanda on 10 November, one day after its original arrival date in Walvis Bay. The vessel’s revised arrival schedule confirmed delays elsewhere in the rotation.
Similarly, APL SANTIAGO’s departure from Luanda was scheduled for 18 November, placing its arrival close to that of another vessel on the same service, APL MIAMI. Namport said this scheduling overlap likely influenced operational decisions by the shipping line.
For COSCO KOREA, the vessel’s departure from Luanda was revised to 1 December, with its expected arrival at Walvis Bay shifting to around 7 December, significantly later than its original 27 November schedule.
The authority also addressed the case of Blue Master II, noting that the vessel had requested priority berthing after experiencing delays at a previous port. When this request could not be accommodated under normal operational procedures, the vessel proceeded to Cape Town.
Namport said the available scheduling information does not support claims that the omissions were caused by congestion at Walvis Bay. Instead, the evidence points to delays at preceding ports and subsequent schedule adjustments within the FEW6 service rotation.
“Schedule integrity remains a key priority for shipping lines,” the statement noted, adding that carriers often omit certain port calls when significant delays occur elsewhere in their network to restore reliability and maintain planned berthing windows.
Namport reassured the public, business community and port users that the Port of Walvis Bay remains fully operational and efficient.
The authority reiterated its commitment to facilitating trade and strengthening Namibia’s position as Africa’s leading maritime logistics hub. Photo: Namport
By Rudi Bowe
