First visitor for cruise liner jetty

The Namibian Ports Authority is looking forward to fully utilise the newly commissioned container
Otis Finck
After a prolonged absence, the Port of Walvis Bay's 2019-2020 cruise season will recommence on 18 October with the arrival of Phoenix Reisen's Albatros.

The Silver Whisper and the Viking Sun were the last two passenger vessels to visit on 22 April.

Immanuel Tino !Hanabeb, Nam­port executive for commercial services, said that the Albatros, which is scheduled to call at the Port of Walvis Bay at Berth 9 on 18 October, will be the first ever passenger liner to make use of the new state of the art terminal. It will also call at the Port of Lüderitz on 18 October.

According to the provisional Namport port log, the Port of Walvis Bay could be visited by more than 25 cruise ships from 22 October up to March 2023. Six passenger liners are scheduled to call in January 2020.

The Albatros will be on an 18-day one-way cruise from Santa Cruz de la Palma in the Canary Islands to Cape Town from where it will set sail to Mathe Island in the Seychelles. It is expected to dock in Cape Town on 22 October.

The 28 518-ton, 812-passenger cruise ship ­debuted in 1973. It is one of the small-sized World Cruise ships operating once per year on an Around the World itinerary to ports in Asia, Africa and Australia.

The Albatros became popular in Germany after starring in the TV series Crazy for the Sea. It is notable for its bright turquoise funnel, has 8 passenger decks and 420 cabins.

The vessel celebrated her 40th service year and was refitted in 2013. She was last dry-dock refurbished in April 2018.