The Walvis Bay Corridors are an integrated system of well-maintained tarred roads and rail networks providing landlocked SADC countries access to the global market.

The corridors, serving the Ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz in Namibia, are a network of transport routes from the neighbouring SADC countries of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Cargo offloaded at the Port of Walvis Bay is handled with state-of-the-art machinery and in record turnaround time. The Port is congestion-free, and its facilities are of a world-class standard, which ensures that cargo is handled reliably and safely. Cargo then makes its way from the Port along one of the Corridors across Namibia and into neighbouring SADC countries.

The Trans Kalahari Corridor links the Port of Walvis Bay to Gaborone and Gauteng in South Africa. From there, this Corridor links with the Maputo Corridor on the east coast of southern Africa. The Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor accesses the   landlocked   countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The Trans-Cunene Corridor extends through northern Namibia into southern Angola and serving the country up to Luanda. The Trans-Oranje Corridor links the Port of Lüderitz through the south of Namibia with the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

The Walvis Bay Corridors are positioned to give the country a competitive edge as a transport hub for all regional and international trade between the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Europe, the America’s and the rest of the world. Through our world-class commercial port at Walvis Bay, international shipping connection and the added advantage of being a gateway to the west coast of Africa, Namibia plays an increasingly important role in trade, linking the global economic centres with over 330 million consumers in southern Africa.

General information on the corridors

The following information regarding customs documentation, port operating hours, railway stations, container depots, operating hours, and shipping lines and routes is general and relevant to each of the corridors.

Customs documentation and paperwork

Apart from the regulations that govern plans, products and certain commodities (import-restricted goods), customs officials ensure fast clearance of shipments at the Corridor border posts.

Authorities are committed to facilitating corridor traffic. Transit documents are processed on the Automated System of Customs Documentation (ASYCUDA WORLD) via electronic data input, which accelerates the process. The ASYCUDA WORLD system currently operates on the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor, Trans-Cunene, Trans Kalahari and Trans-Oranje Corridors. As a result, border processing and clearance of documents at these corridors are faster and simpler.

For further information on documentation requirements, please consult the relevant customs authorities along each corridor.

Customs and transport information

Namibia has introduced ASYCUDA WORLD at all its border posts. Thus, if a goods declaration/entry is complete and correct, Customs will release the consignment as follows:

• Within 5 working hours for declarations processed through the ASYCUDA WORLD system;
• Within 16 working hours for manually processed entries or entries selected for additional documentary checks, whether automated or manual;
• Within 24 working hours for declarations selected for documentary checks, and for any goods stopped for physical examination;
• Within 2 working hours for goods/entries processed through the Direct Trader Input (DTI) facility; and
• An official receipt will be issued immediately for any payment received.

For additional information on customs in Namibia, consult the Ministry of Finance website at www.mof.gov.na or e-mail them at informationcentre@mof.gov.na.

Port and railway operating hours

Ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz

Marine Services

Mondays to Fridays          06:00-12:00*        13:00-17:00*

Saturdays                         06:00-12:00*

Cargo Services

Mondays to Fridays          07:00-12:00*        13:00-17:00*

Saturdays                         06:00-12:00*

Comments: Port Control operates on a 24-hour basis. Container vessels are handled on a 24-hour basis. Any other vessels will be handled beyond the normal working hours if so requested.

Railway stations

Port of Walvis Bay Railway Head

Mondays to Fridays           07:30-13:00           14:00-17:00

Saturdays                          07:30–10:00

Windhoek Container Depot 

Mondays to Fridays           06:30-18:00

Comments: By special arrangement with the Depot Supervisor, the Depot can open on Saturday

Windhoek Station

Mondays to Fridays            07:30-13:00*         14:00-17:00*

Shipping lines and routes

At present, the Port of Walvis Bay is serviced by Maritime Carrier Shipping (MACS), Maersk/Safmarine, Canada State Africa Lines (CSAL), CMA-CGM, GAL Service, Maruba, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), MSC, NMT Shipping, UAL and Ocean Africa Container Lines.