N$4
namib times
SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6657 FRIDAY 2 JUNE 2017
Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
Chinese road builder accommodates workers illegally at construction camp
Piquet Jacobs Namport has re-opened its Syncrolift to full capacity this week. Extensive repair and maintenance work had been carried out at the 44-year-old Syncrolift since June 2014. It necessitated the Syncrolift operating below its capacity. The re-opening on Wednesday of this week coincided to the day three years since a major incident at the Syncrolift on 31 May 2014 when a cable of one of the lift platform's winch motors snapped whilst lifting a fishing vessel from the water for repairs and maintenance. During the re-opening ceremony on Wednesday, Elzevir Gelderbloem, Namport Port Engineer, emphasized Namport's commitment towards keeping the Syncrolift in good running condition. “The Syncrolift is a pivotal dry dock facility for ship repairs and maintenance in Walvis Bay. The Syncrolift can accom-
modate vessels of up to 2000 tons and is crucial for the local fishing industry for drydock vessel repairs and maintenance. We will not allow this facility to be closed down or fall into disrepair. We will continue to maintain it and to repair when necessary. The money we spent annually over the last few years on concrete rehabilitation and the steel repairs runs into millions”, explained Gelderbloem. In the 2014 incident, major damage was caused to two main steel beams and a grillage section when a wire rope completely severed under tension while Namport Syn-
crolift personnel were in the process of lifting the MFV Paraclete out of the water onto the syncrolift platform. All ground work came to a halt. Kraatz Marine and several other local companies under Namport's supervision and instruction carried out a stabilisation operation and emergency repairs. The syncrolift only became semioperational on 14 June 2014, and remained functional, albeit at reduced capacity until the reopening this week. The Syncrolift has since 1973 been one of only two commercial drydock ship
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Cash crunch cans Swakop Council gives workers thirty office-park Erwin Leuschner project days to move out
The Swakopmund Town Council has ordered that Unik Construction Engineering Namibia (UNIK), the joint venture contractor constructing a new road east of the dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, has to evacuate their employees from the construction camp within 30 days. The employees affected are Chinese nationals and has once more placed Chinese companies under the negative spotlight for cutting corners and flouting Namibian laws, regulations and policies. The decision was made during the recent Council meeting, after it was established during a site inspection at the construction camp that various workers are residing at the camp located in the vicinity of the Swakop river. This is contrary
to stipulations of a Council Resolution passed on 30 June 2016. It explicitly states that no workers are allowed to reside at the camp. The site inspection was conducted during December 2016 by the Engineering Services Department. According to the Council meeting agenda, after the inspection a meeting took place between the Acting CEO of the Swakopmund municipality, Marco Swarts, UNIK as well as Zhong Mei
Engineering Group (ZMEG). The issue was discussed and ZMEG subsequently complied. UNIK to date have not complied. After the meeting UNIK sent a letter to Council, explaining they comply with the project specifications of staff accommodation in terms of their contract with the Roads Authority (RA). “Although the requirements also provide for rented accommodation in the nearest town or
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New by-law to encourage supermarkets to charge for plastic bags
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SS Nujoma to make maiden call to port of WBay
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FNB goes orange Pages 7
NRU National Academy Intervention
Photo by Erwin Leuschner
Syncrolift back at full capacity
inside
Plastic bags litter the fence at the Swakopmund Aerodrome – there are many more areas around town equally polluted. With the new by-law the municipality hopes to prevent such unsightly images. See full report on page 2
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Valid Dates: Tuesday 30 May Sunday 4 June 2017 Food Lover’s Market Centre, 50 Moses Garoëb, Swakopmund, Tel: 414 400 Fresh Produce Market, 69 Moses Garoëb Str, Walvis Bay Tel: 207 152