When the Port of Walvis Bay slipped in the latest global port efficiency rankings, the news landed with the weight of disappointment. For years, the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has stood as a model of national competence, a success story of what a well-run public enterprise can be. Walvis Bay, in particular, has symbolised Namibia’s gateway to global trade, a logistical hub linking southern Africa to the Atlantic and beyond.
Namport attributes the decline in ranking to global shipping disruptions, and that explanation is not without merit. The world’s supply chains have been in disarray for years, buffeted by overlapping crises: the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, surging oil prices, climate disruptions, and most recently, the turmoil in the Red Sea. These factors have combined to reshape global shipping patterns, congest ports, and upend the economics of international trade.
But while global forces have indeed contributed to the slowdown, Namibia cannot afford to take comfort in explanations alone. Walvis Bay is not just another port on the map, it is the heart of our national ambition to be a logistics hub for southern Africa. Losing pace now risks losing much more than a ranking; it threatens the very idea of Namibia as a trade and transport bridge between continents.
The global shipping storm
To understand Walvis Bay’s current predicament, one must first appreciate the scale of the global shipping crisis. The industry has not recovered from the aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic, which upended container movement worldwide. When China locked down major manufacturing hubs in 2020 and 2021, the ripple effects reached every port from Rotterdam to Cape Town. Ships were stranded, empty containers piled up in the wrong places, and freight costs skyrocketed by more than 400 percent on some routes.
Then came the war in Ukraine, disrupting Black Sea trade routes and diverting global shipping flows. Energy prices spiked, maritime insurance rates rose, and vessels were rerouted thousands of kilometres to avoid conflict zones.
In 2023 and 2024, a new crisis emerged, Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, prompting many shipping companies to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. This led to delays of up to 14 days and a surge in port congestion across African coastlines, including southern ports. Namibia’s Walvis Bay was not spared. The influx of rerouted ships placed pressure on infrastructure, logistics, and turnaround times, especially in ports not built for such sudden surges in volume.
Adding to these challenges has been a sharp increase in fuel prices, labour shortages at global terminals, and the mounting effects of climate change. Severe storms and rising sea levels have forced temporary closures in several ports around the world. Even the Panama Canal, one of the arteries of world trade, has been operating at reduced capacity due to drought.
Namibia’s position in the storm
In this context, Namibia’s dip in global port rankings must be viewed both as a symptom of global turbulence and as a wake-up call. Namport’s infrastructure and management remain among the most efficient on the continent. The modern container terminal at Walvis Bay, inaugurated in 2019, expanded capacity by 750,000 TEUs per year and positioned the port as a potential competitor to Durban and Cape Town.
However, efficiency rankings measure more than cranes and capacity. They assess turnaround time, digitalisation, cargo handling speed, and coordination between customs, logistics companies, and shipping lines. Here, Namibia still faces systemic constraints, bureaucratic delays, limited automation, and insufficient hinterland connectivity. The railway to the north and east remains underutilised, and cross-border logistics continue to suffer from inconsistent procedures and paper-based systems.
These are domestic challenges, not global ones and they must be addressed urgently.
Namport’s statement citing “global shipping chaos” is not an excuse but a context. Yet, in the midst of global turbulence, the countries that emerge stronger are those that adapt faster. Namibia’s logistics strategy cannot stand still while the world races toward digitised trade, automated port systems, and green shipping corridors.
Our focus must shift from reaction to anticipation. Namibia should be leading the conversation on regional logistics integration, leveraging the Walvis Bay Corridor Group to ensure seamless movement of goods into Zambia, Botswana, and the DRC. The time has come to expand customs harmonisation agreements and build stronger linkages with the private sector, particularly freight forwarders and shipping companies that can position Walvis Bay as a preferred alternative to congested South African ports.
Equally important is the digital transformation of port operations. The global leaders in port efficiency, such as Singapore, Rotterdam, and Tangier Med, have achieved their rankings through integrated digital ecosystems that connect every link of the supply chain in real time. Namibia must accelerate investment in digital platforms that track cargo movement, automate customs clearance, and reduce the human bottlenecks that slow trade.
Furthermore, Namibia must embrace green port innovation. As the world transitions toward sustainable logistics, ports are under increasing scrutiny for their carbon footprint. Namibia’s abundant renewable energy resources, solar and wind, give Walvis Bay a unique opportunity to brand itself as Africa’s first green port. Electrifying cargo handling equipment, investing in shore power for vessels, and exploring hydrogen-based bunkering can all position Walvis Bay as a forward-looking, environmentally responsible hub.
Guarding national pride
Namport has long been a symbol of national pride, a reminder that state-owned enterprises can deliver excellence when run with professionalism and integrity. But pride must be matched with urgency. A global ranking is not merely a number; it is a mirror of competitiveness. If Namibia wishes to be the logistics gateway to the region, it must fight for that position every day, through innovation, agility, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
The seas are rough, yes. But nations are judged not by the storms they face, but by how they steer through them. Walvis Bay can and must reclaim its rightful place among the world’s most efficient ports.
The world will not wait for us. Neither should we.
