Coronavirus threatens Namport business

AN outbreak of the deadly coronavirus could have a serious impact on Nam­port’s business and service delivery, as this would affect both domestic and cross-border trade, Namport acting CEO Victor Ashikoto told on Wednesday.

“This is because the cargo handled by Namport is not only for the domestic market, but also for the hinterland markets, specifically the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region,” he said.

The impact of the coronavirus is already being felt across the globe because many Chinese nationals travel across the world, either for business or leisure. Many other nationalities also travel to and from China for the same reasons.

Occasionally, Namibia, via Namport, receives passenger liners with Asian tourists, while fishing and cargo vessels with Asian seamen on board go about their business.

Only yesterday, two passenger liners were stopped at Japan and Hong Kong, leaving over 5 300 passengers stranded on these ships after they were exposed to the coronavirus.

Ashikoto told that four passenger liners are expected to dock at the port of Walvis Bay between February and March with approximately 3 500 passengers.

“Before a vessel arrives on Namibian shores, the vessel’s agent is required to provide all background documentation to Namport about the last port of call, the number of passengers and the general conditions on board,” Ashikoto explained. “Once a vessel docks, the port health officials under the health ministry screen all passengers before they disembark.”

He said any passenger suspected to be infected is isolated on board, and if need be, evacuated as per port health procedures.

“The vessel will, in this case, be quarantined,” he said.

A memo was issued on 28 January to all ship captains, ship agents, shore skippers and skippers detailing the process to be followed when a vessel arrives in the port.

“It is important to highlight that the health clearance of all vessels entering the ports is the sole responsibility of the health ministry, through the port health department. Namport is, however, ready to assist the ministry wherever possible,” assured Ashikoto.