Namport, Namibia’s national port operator, has announced that its development of the Walvis Bay mixed-use waterfront and marina project has been deferred until 2021.
In 2016, Namport advertised its interest in partners for this R1 billion project. The partners would be expected to conduct studies and source funding while Namport would provide the required land.
The project will now be put out to tender in the next two years, Elzevir Gelderbloem, executive at the port authority told Tourism Update. However, he did not explain what happened to the original tender.
‘Exact timing is dependent upon demand which depends on the economy,’ Gelderbloem said.
The new waterfront project plan includes office and retail spaces, restaurants, a hotel and a health spa. The development concept will also feature a conference centre and open public spaces such as an amphitheatre.
The small marina project, located next to the new container terminal, is already 50% completed and includes the marina and a 1.5km x 30m sea frontage land area. The final phase of construction includes small boat jetties for yachts. This will complement the completed passenger liner jetty.
This past weekend the MS Albatros, currently cruising under German travel agency Phoenix Reisen, visited the Walvis Bay port.
Namport is expecting a number of passenger vessels to call at the Port of Walvis Bay with three arriving before the end of October and seven more expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2020. These will be medium-to-large commercial cruise vessels that can carry up to 400 passengers.
The state-owned port authority is hoping the increased capacity will provide a significant boost to the tourism industry.
The land-side part of the marina project will feature the construction of small, wooden-façade restaurants and cafes. They will be built to match the existing waterfront exterior design decor.
Image: Pixabay
