Andre Klynsmith

Ports and Terminals

Six New Cranes on the Quay: Walvis Bay's N$2.1 Billion Terminal Upgrade Starts Taking Shape

Terminal Investment Namibia (TIN) has taken delivery of an initial batch of six rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes at the Port of Walvis Bay, the first visible hardware from a N$2.1 billion modernisation programme aimed at positioning Namibia's flagship port as a serious alternative gateway for SADC trade.

Ports and Terminals

7 July 2026 • 3 min read

Financing deals make headlines, but cranes on the quay move containers. With six new RTGs landed and more equipment to follow, Walvis Bay's upgrade has shifted from paperwork to steel — and landlocked SADC shippers weighing alternatives to congested routes should be paying attention.

From Concession to Cranes in Under Two Years

TIN secured a 25-year concession to operate the Walvis Bay container terminal in 2024. In late 2024 the company signed a financing agreement with Standard Bank Namibia and RMB Namibia to raise N$2.1 billion (about US$126.5 million) for terminal modernisation and operational efficiency. The six RTG cranes now standing at the port are the first major equipment delivery under that programme.

According to the operator, the cranes are expected to lift terminal productivity, increase throughput capacity and support higher cargo volumes. RTGs matter because they determine how fast a container yard turns: more machines in the stack means faster truck turnarounds at the gate and quicker vessel operations at the berth.

The Regional Play: An Alternative to Congested Gateways

For Namport, the national port authority, the upgrade is part of a deliberate strategy to position Namibia as a credible regional alternative to South African ports. A significant share of the foreign trade of landlocked SADC economies — Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe among them — is still routed through South African gateways, particularly Durban, where recurring delays have pushed shippers to look at alternatives such as Maputo and Nacala in Mozambique.

Walvis Bay's pitch is different: a deep-water Atlantic port with uncongested corridors running east into Botswana, Zambia and beyond. Every productivity gain in the container yard strengthens that argument — and shortens the business case for cargo owners comparing total corridor time and cost rather than sea freight rates alone.

Rail Ambitions Behind the Port Investment

The terminal upgrade does not stand alone. Windhoek is stepping up investment in overland transport infrastructure, including the proposed Trans-Kalahari railway linking Namibia with Botswana, with similar initiatives under discussion with Zambia. The logic is straightforward: a faster port only wins sustained volume if the corridors behind it can move cargo inland reliably.

For now, road transport carries the overwhelming majority of Walvis Bay corridor cargo — which means transporters serving the Trans-Kalahari and Trans-Caprivi routes are the immediate beneficiaries of any growth the modernised terminal attracts.

About the Author
	Andre Klynsmith Entrepreneur & Technology Enthusiast Andre's expertise spans technology, blockchain, transport, and logistics -- with a passion for innovation and driving positive change across industries. info@laaimylorrie.com | laaimylorrie.com