Walvis Bay:Namport anticipates completing the construction of a 340-meter Berth 9 quay at the Port of Walvis Bay by December 2027. This development aims to expand port capacity and support Namibia's emerging oil and gas industry.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Namport CEO Andrew Kanime disclosed that the tender process for the construction is currently underway. The project will feature a 150-meter quay designed for small vessels and tugboats, along with approximately five hectares of reclaimed land. Although it is a multipurpose facility, its initial focus will be on bolstering the offshore oil and gas sector.
A transaction adviser has been appointed to aid in the development of oil and gas supply bases. Additionally, a concession for the North Port supply base is anticipated to be awarded to a third-party operator during the 2026/27 financial year.
Kanime highlighted the N$1.2 billion upgrade of the port's entrance channel, financed by Terminal Investment Namibia, the New Container Terminal concessionaire. This upgrade widened the channel from 134 to 200 meters and deepened it to about 17 meters. Furthermore, the concessionaire invested approximately N$1.1 billion in container-handling equipment. These investments were made at no cost to the State.
The enhancements have significantly increased Walvis Bay's capacity, allowing it to accommodate container vessels carrying up to 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared to the previous 9,000 TEUs limit.
The planned North Port Multipurpose Terminal will initially include a 600-meter quay with a depth of 16 meters, which can be expanded to 1,200 meters. This project aims to alleviate congestion at the currently space-constrained South Port and is expected to be completed in the early 2030s.
Furthermore, a new main entrance gate is scheduled to be commissioned in early November 2026 to reduce truck congestion on town roads and enhance cargo movement. This will be followed by the implementation of gate automation and a truck-arrival booking system during the 2026/27 financial year.
Namport is also advancing its digital transformation, with the SAP S/4HANA platform set to become operational in November 2026. The company is tasked with implementing the National Single Window system to streamline vessel clearance and coordination between port users and border agencies. Procurement documentation for this system has been finalized.
Reconstruction designs for Berths 1 to 8 have begun, and the first rehabilitated section of the crane rail serving Berths 4 to 8 is back in service. Namport is also executing a recapitalization program to enhance operational efficiency, which includes cranes, reach stackers, and tugboats.
Kanime emphasized that these investments not only focus on infrastructure expansion but also support the NDP6 objective of positioning Namibia as a regional logistics hub by 2030.