Namibia’s quiet achiever

The Port of Lüderitz, named after German merchant Adolf Lüderitz, is Namibia’s second port and was ‘discovered’ by Europeans in 1487 when the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias arrived on his epic voyage of discovery.

The port was established by German settlers in the 1800s and has had a topsy-turvy existence, becoming all but abandoned as a commercial port by the early 1990s. It is only since the new Namibian Port Authority (Namport) administration took over in 1995 that Lüderitz has begun to resurrect itself as the gateway to the south of Namibia.

The town bearing the same name used the opportunity to reinvent itself as a tourist attraction, making good use of the unique German architecture and other colonial attractions.

Since 1995, investment has improved harbour facilities, and Lüderitz now handles modern coastal traffic as well as the needs of the offshore sector, including the diamond mining and fishing industries.

Port limitations

Since Namport took over the administration of Lüderitz from South Africa, considerable investment has begun to improve the port and its facilities. This has included dredging the approach channel to the harbour as well as the 198-metre wide turning basin to -8.15m CD, and the water alongside the new quay to -8.75m CD for the first 300m.

The length of the entrance channel to the jetty is 708m with a width of 60.9m. The concrete quay has a depth alongside of -6.1m CD. The largest vessel permitted is 150m, with a draught of 8.15m and a deadweight tonnage of 5 000 tonnes. Larger ships may be handled with the permission of harbour authorities.

Port Control operates between the hours of 07h00 and 17h00, with the nearby Diaz Point Lighthouse providing direct communications to the port for 24 hours a day.

Marine craft

Lüderitz is served by three tug/work boats – the 32-tonne bollard pull tug Onyeti, the 12.4-tonne pull Pelican and the diminutive nine-tonne bollard pull, Pelican. The port has a harbour launch named Egret, and three harbour lighters: two for cargo handling and one fitted for slops. Pilotage is compulsory.

Port volumes

Cargo handled at the Port of Lüderitz increased dramatically from 1994, when the average number of ship calls was 826 and cargo reached 51 513t. By 1997, ship calls were 1 253 and tonnage peaked at 102 614t. Cargo landed consisted mainly of fuel and fish products. Exports were predominantly fish products.

Port facilities

Lüderitz is linked with the rest of Namibia by rail and road. The port has a main concrete jetty that can accommodate ships of up to 150m. A new quay wall of 500m, with a depth alongside of -8.75m CD, has been constructed along the eastern shore of Shark Island, enabling Lüderitz to meet increasing demand on services. Lay-by and maintenance facilities are available for smaller craft at the 154-metre long wooden jetty, with limited water and electrical supply, but no cargo handling or heavy cargo is possible on this jetty. The port handles oil cargoes at the main jetty connecting to a single pipe (gas oil and diesel). There are four bunker points on the concrete jetty. Stevedoring and ship chandling are available.

Early days

In the early years, Lüderitz was a dreary place and expanded very hesitantly. There were no more than a few wooden huts and corrugated iron dwellings. When diamonds were found near the town in 1908, however, building activities suddenly began. The town’s wonderful colonial houses date back to this time.

Climate

Lüderitz has a rough but healthy maritime climate. Gale-force winds (under a blue sky) frequently blow, particularly between September and February. Often, in the mornings, a thick layer of sea fog covers the town. On wind-free days, however, it is wonderful in Lüderitz. Rainfall is very low – less than 50 millimetres per year.

Staff reporter

 

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