Photo: Jack Dempsey Transport A Publication of Logistics 29 September 2016 2 Transport & Logistics Foreword: Rail As An Safe logistics and transport key to Namibia’s competitiveness Integral elcome to 2016’s conscious becomes essential. In order Supplement on Logistics to achieve this status, the streamlining Element Of The and Transportation. The and simplification of processes have WNamibian understands the important to be evident, regional harmonisation role logistics and transport play in ought be the order of the day, and the Land of the Brave and each year safety should be ensured. However, Logistics Hub the paper dedicates a full supplement the current statistics of accidents in to the subject. The newspaper joins Namibia put our roads as some of • WC (JACK) DEMPSEY the government that has for the last the most deadly worldwide. This axle loads on rail. Approximately 45 % of decade been mindful of this critical has a severe impact on the movement the Nambian network of 2 600 route km INTRODUCTION sector. The Namibian government of goods and people. Accidents can accommodate only 16,5 tonne per axle has been cognisant of the fact that Logan Fransman or crashes apart from the human and less. efficient and effective logistics costs mean delays, transportation THE railway has its origin in the Industrial Map ( Pic 1) clearly illustrates the lack and transport systems do not come Regional growth over the last connections missed and huge financial Revolution of the early 1800’s and of rail networking between Namibia and overnight, and they therefore included 20 years has seen the demand implications. dominated land transport with its peak in its hinterland. logistics and transport in the National increase twofold for delivering That is why this year’s Logistics and the late 1940’s whereafter it declined in the RAILWAY’S COMPETITIVE Development Plans NDP4 and NDP5. goods and services to landlocked Transportation Supplement tackles face of disruptive competition from other ADVANTAGE These plans have recognised this countries, with transport sectors the difficult subject of road safety. transport modes that flourished on the sector as a cornerstone in achieving becoming lucrative businesses to NGCL, its partners and the public at momentum of the World War II technology competitiveness and meaningful operate in. It is one of the reasons large, are searching for a solution to boom. The railway has proven to be one The following 3 genetic technologies economic growth in Namibia. why the Namibia German Centre of curb road accidents, thereby creating of the most durable industries to have distinguish rail from other transport modes: Logistics and transport are seen as Logistics (NGCL) exists as part of a safer and more efficient network emerged from the Industrial Revolution Bearing, which promotes heavy axle infrastructure services, knowledge the Namibia University of Science of transportation and logistics for the and has already entered its 3rd century as a loads and processes that allow for the safe and Technology. Without a strong country and its people. mode of transport. Namibia has celebrated Guiding, which promotes high speed movement of goods and people. foundation in logistics education that We hope you enjoy and learn 120 years of state railways in 2015. Where Coupling, which promotes long trains Without these in place for Namibia can match the international logistics more about this dynamic sector after the railway used to be the dominant mode Rail is inherently globally competitive and in turn the SADC region, there sector knowledge, we cannot hope to reading the articles in the supplement. of land transport, its role has significantly in Heavy Haul (heavy axle load, very long is little hope of trade facilitation achieve the goals set forth in the NDP. The different facets and aspects of changed from a common carrier of all trains but low speed), High Speed Intercity becoming the catalyst to generating This all sounds great, but one of logistics in this supplement will kinds of goods towards a competitive transport (high speed, but low axle load) wealth and funding economic and the major hurdles, which we keep hopefully motivate more people and player in certain market niches based on and Heavy Intermodal (double stacked social development. The importance facing, is the safety aspect of logistics organisations to become involved its inherent strengths. Its future is not to containers, heavy axle load and high speed). of this cannot be overemphasised. and transportation. As the need and help nurture, develop and foster be found in its past and Railways need to The market space of heavy intermodal / That is why achieving an efficient for delivery of goods and services a safe transportation environment that adapt to current challenges of the logistics double stack containers and high speed logistics and transport sector has increases and Namibia positions itself benefits the Namibian economy. industry. intercity transport is not accessible on the taken precedence in Namibia and more and more as the logistical hub of Feel free to drop in at NGCL for Cape gauge/ narrow gauge standard. CURRENT SITUATION many other countries across Africa. SADC, everything needs to function more information. We wish you Rail is also known to be an energy Namibia recently joined 15 other optimally. With competition expected pleasant and informative reading. efficient transport mode with a very low African countries in the Tripartite Free from other port-based countries, and Railways in southern Africa were steel-wheel on steel-rail rolling resistance. Trade Agreement (TFTA) to establish for Namibia to become the preferred Logan Fransman historically developed to carry natural Rail needs to leverage its inherent a single market for the movement of trade facilitating country, being fast Director of The Namibian-German resources and not to support regional or strengths as referred to above to be people, goods and services. and reliable and above all safety Centre for Logistics continental networkability and economic competitive and play its rightful role in the integration as envisaged in the vision of development of Namibia’s aspirations of a establishing Namibia as a logistics hub. logistics hub. The southern African railway systems are generally weak and running at a loss, with WALVIS BAY CORRIDOR Transnet Freight Rail as the only exception DEVELOPMENT due to its heavy haul lines. African colonial railways were Namibia made huge progress in constructed at the lowest passible standards developing new trade routes through supporting low axle loads and low speeds, its WB Corridor initiatives and road a legacy still prevalent amongst many transport has been the pathfinder, playing a continental railway systems (including pioneering role in identifying and opening Namibia). Track gauges on the continent up trade routes as happened in other vary from standard gauge in north Africa parts of the world after which railways to metre gauge in east Africa and Cape can leverage their genetic technologies gauge (1067 mm) in southern Africa. to provide capacity, tonnage and cost The Namibian rail system (on Cape efficiencies. In the absence of direct rail gauge) has a direct rail link only with the links, the overland intermodal options of SA Transnet system via Nakop, Upington, transhipment at the railheads along the De Aar and is indirectly linked to other Trans Cunene and Walvis Bay-Ndola- SADC countries on the same track gauge Lubumbashi corridors are for now the only via South Africa, i.e. Zambia, Botswana, option for rail and needs to be explored Zimbabwe, DRC, Angola (once the Lobito- more in partnership with the road and DRC link is re-opened), Mozambique, logistics industries. Road safety education Swaziland, Malawi and Tanzania ( via the 24 AUG SILK ROAD ON RAILS 09:00 - 12:00 and awareness Tazara line). The long route distances and other inefficiencies such as extremely long transit times do however render these rail In our vision to become a logistics links not as a viable trade route. Even rail hub, Namibia can take a page from the Value of driver training traffic between Namibia and South Africa landmark achievement in global railway 22 SEP comprises less than 3% of TransNamib’s infrastructure with the launching in what 09:00 - 12:00 to change behaviour rail volumes and is seriously constrained has become known as the “Silk Road by a route distance 43% longer than the on Rails – China-Europe block trains” Trans Kalahari road option to Gauteng that carry goods across the globe. The province and very long transit times. traditional Silk Route was an ancient 20 OCT The emergency services The Namibian government has overland transport network operated by 09:00 - 12:00 experience on road safety embarked on a programme to upgrade its camel caravans between ancient centres of rail network to 18,5 / 20 to axle load , which population and provided a link between the is a very good fit for the general freight type East and Europe. The proposal to establish of traffic conveyed over its network and a China-Europe railroad service surprised 24 NOV Law Enforcement and leverages the inherent strength of higher even the most experienced of rail industry 09:00 - 12:00 alternative systems M. Maletzky | Tel: 061 2072909 Email: [email protected] Web: www. centreforlogistics.org Transport & LogisticsTransport & Logistics 3 29 September 2016 Rail As An Integral Element Of The Logistics Hub axle loads on rail. Approximately 45 % ofplayers. The China-Europe rail route gauge locomotives per unit tractive services, provided it applies modern the Nambian network of 2 600 route kmis the longest in the world, spanning effort/kN) and access to a global day technologies and best practice can accommodate only 16,5 tonne per axlemore than 10 000 km over 6 countries market of rolling stock available new/ governance and management and less.