The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) is observing the facilitation and transportation of a 50-metre oxygen plant container, currently being moved by a 63-metre-long truck enroute to Solwezi, the provincial capital of the mineral-rich north-western province of Zambia. This giant abnormal special project cargo, which originated from Malaysia via the Port of Walvis Bay, is destined for one of the mines in Solwezi.
The cargo weighs 171 tonnes, and is estimated to travel a distance of approximately 2 900km on the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor (WBNLDC). The transportation of this abnormal cargo is a direct outcome of WBCG’s ongoing business development and marketing efforts, aimed at increasing cargo volumes and positioning Namibia as the logistics hub for Southern Africa.
WBCG’s chief executive officer Mbahupu Tjivikua highlighted the significance of these efforts. “This success story is testimony to our tenacity, and underscores the realisation of our business development and marketing initiatives. It highlights Namibia’s capacity to handle giant and complex cargo through the Walvis Bay corridors. As such, we encourage future customers wishing to import similar cargo to leverage our expertise.”
The abnormal load is being escorted by the Namibian Police to ensure the safety of road users. It is estimated that this journey will take approximately 35 days, with the truck moving the cargo at an average speed of 20-40 km/h.
“We extend our gratitude to the Namibian Ports Authority, Nampol, the freight forwarder,
the transporter, and all the stakeholders involved in ensuring the safety of all road users as well as the efficient and safe movement of this cargo on the WBNLDC. We urge road users to remain patient as the abnormal cargo continues its journey,” said Tjivikua.
The WBCG facilitates trade and conducts business development for transit cargo to and from the hinterland through the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. It primarily engages customers, key clients and stakeholders in key markets to raise awareness about the importance and benefits of using the Walvis Bay corridors, which are classified as the safest
and most efficient routes in the region. In addition, the WBCG operates a dedicated marketing and business development office in Lusaka, Zambia to further strengthen these efforts. The WBCG, together with public and private industry stakeholders, remains committed to ensuring
that the necessary infrastructure and systems are in place to
efficiently handle various abnormal cargo loads, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Namibia’s corridors.