The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) has acquired a modern fire truck worth N$5.2 million.
The truck, believed to be the second largest in Namibia, was acquired with the aim of reducing Namport’s reliance on the Walvis Bay Municipality for emergency and fire response services.
The CEO of Namport, Bisey /Uirab, said it was indeed time for Namport to make such an acquisition as this was an international requirement for the port.
/Uirab explained that after the integration of Walvis Bay into Namibia, Namport signed a memorandum of understanding with the Walvis Bay Municipality for the provision of emergency services to the port due to a lack of response capabilities for landside emergencies. “However, the port has grown tremendously since then in terms of volume, risks and employee size. Also, Walvis Bay itself expanded and is still expanding, and is placing additional pressure on municipal emergency services, which resulted in the municipality approaching Namport in 2013 to consider the establishment of its own emergency unit. Following a risk management [assessment], Namport embarked on a strategy to establish a fully fledged emergency response unit,” he said. Commending Namport on the acquisition, the Governor of the Erongo Region, Cleophas Mutjavikua, said he wants to see more partnerships such as that of Namport and the Walvis Bay Municipality in Erongo.
He urged Namport to extend usage of the fire truck to the municipality to allow a speedy response in case of emergency and shack fires that often hit the town. One key feature of the fire truck is that it is a double truck and can carry four crew plus the driver. Its seats are fitted with breathing apparatus set for quick and effective response.
The engine has a tank capacity of 8 000 litres of water and 2 litres of foam and can pump water at a maximum flow rate of 10 000 litres per minute with an outlet pressure of 24 bars.