African ports from Namibia to Mauritius are becoming more popular as refueling stops for vessels shunning security threats in the Red Sea.1)
The Namibian port of Walvis Bay or Port Louis in Mauritius are “top options” for filling up if there’s a need en route, shipping giant A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S said in a reply to questions. The company still prefers to bunker at the start or end of a route.2)
Walvis Bay — located along coastal sand dunes in Namibia — is a convenient stop because it requires minimal deviation by shipping lines, according to Simone Piredda, a senior trader at Monjasa.3)
“This shift has directly benefited strategically located ports like Toamasina in Madagascar, Port Louis in Mauritius, and Walvis Bay in Namibia, which lie along the east-west route connecting Asia with Europe” as ships avoid South Africa, Khachatryan said.4)