Thesis (MPhil) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is aimed at determining whether the Port of Walvis Bay has what it takes to become a future hub port on the south-western coast of Africa. An equally important aspect of this study is to promote Walvis Bay as an economically viable option for trade in and out of Central and Southern Africa, and what proportion of traffic Walvis Bay could expect to capture from competing regional ports, especially the ports of Durban and Cape Town. The conclusions arrived at in this study indicate that the prospects for transforming Walvis Bay into a future hub port will depend on the increased involvement of the private sector, political and industrial stability, as well as regional integration to mention just a few. It is clear that Walvis Bay does not pose a competitive threat to the ports of Cape Town and Durban, and can only perform a complementary role. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studiestuk is om te bepaal of die Hawe van Walvisbaai oor die vermoë beskik om ‘n sentrale hawe vir die suidelike en weskus van Afrika te wees. ‘n Belangrike aspek van die studie is om Walvisbaai te bevorder as ‘n ekonomiese alternatief vir handel na en vanaf Sentraal en Suidelike Afrika, en om die verhouding van verkeer te bepaal wat gewen kan word vanaf kompeterende hawens in die streek, veral die Durbanse en Kaapse Hawens. Die resultate bewys dat die moontlikhede om Walvisbaai te omskep in ‘n toekomstige sentrale hawe, alleenlik deur die deelname en samewerking van die privaatsektor, politieke goeie wil, die industriële stabiliteit van die land en integrasie met buurstate bewerkstellig kan word. Walvisbaai hou geen kompeterende bedreiging in vir die hawens van Kaapstad en Durban nie, en kan slegs ‘n komplementerende rol speel.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / Namibian ports are state-owned and have fallen behind in terms of port reform The ports are increasingly pressurised by port users and even more so by shipping lines for infrastructure investment and technological advancement without any guarantee of return on investments. Increased competition amongst ports as well as a shift in the balance of power to port users, demands of Namibia to review its port governance and ownership structure to ensure that the country remains responsive to the changing global marketplace contribute to these pressures. This study deals with the complexities associated with port reform and port competition. The paper presents a synthesis of literature on port governance models and port reform. In addition, this paper also presents an analysis of the port choice decisions made by port users and reviewed port reform case studies of two African ports. Drawing from the lessons in case studies, it is clear that various options of port reform have emerged over the years, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The study further shows similarities in the objectives of port users when choosing a port but applying different strategies to achieve their objectives.