Walvisbaai (22°57'S., 14°30'E.) 12 miles S of Swakopmund, is entered between Pelican Point (22°53'S., 14°27'E.), the N extremity of the Walvis Peninsula, and Bird Rock, 5 miles E. The port is the center of a large fishing industry, and the exports are fishmeal and fish products, copper, lead, vanadium ores, and guano.

Sovereignty of Walvis Bay was transferred to the Namibian government from South Africa in 1994.

Hospital facilities are available at Walvis Bay. The airport is situated about 9 miles from the center of town. Rail service to the interior is conducted by the Namibian government and serves Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, as well as other towns, and links with the railroad of the Republic of South Africa.

The Walvis Peninsula, consisting entirely of sand, forms the W side of Walvisbaai. It has a general height of 0.6 to 1.2m, with a few scattered dunes which are constantly changing in shape, height, and position by the strong SW winds. During exceptionally high spring tides, extensive areas on the E side of the peninsula are awash.

The head of the bay consists of a shallow lagoon and a mud flat, which is also awash, at exceptionally high tides. Bird Rock, a low flat islet, resembles a pier from seaward; a line of pylons extends between the islet and the shore. A wooden platform stands on the islet from which guano is collected.

A dredged channel leads to the harbor facilities at the head of the harbor.

Winds—Weather.—The swell off the coast in the vicinity of Walvisbaai is normally moderate and SW, becoming heavy from that direction after the passage of a deep depression at the Cape of Good Hope. A NW swell is rare and seldom enough not to interfere with fueling or watering vessels at anchor. With the strong E winds of winter, there may be considerable sea running out in the bay; the strong afternoon sea breeze may also cause a lively sea, especially after several consecutive days in summer.

Sea fogs are frequent off this coast at all seasons, but are more so, near the shore, in autumn and winter (April to September). They may appear at any time of the day, with a SW wind, even of force 5, and in winter with a NW wind. The fog may persist over the sea for several days. Normally, fog covers only the bay and the buoyed approach channel to the wharf during the night and early morning, receding seaward before noon, so that it is possible to enter the port on most afternoons, even in foggy spells. An exception to this is the fog, brought by NW winds, which may approach and cover the bay at any time of the day, remaining until the following morning. During winter, land fogs frequently form after a clear dawn and drift over the bay, but these are usually short in duration and usually disperse by noon. However, the incidence of fog in the harbor area and buoyed channel has decreased appreciably in recent years.

Tides—Currents.—The tidal rise at Walvisbaai is 1.6m at springs and l.2m at neaps. During periods of strong SSW winds, a current runs in the opposite direction alongside the main wharf and has been felt strongly within a distance of 300m of the wharf. At times, this current is so strong that vessels berthing or unberthing require tugs to counteract it. Observations have shown that the stronger the wind from this direction, the stronger will be the current experienced. There is no perceptible current with winds from any other direction, or during periods of calm.

During N winds, a surge, seldom more than 0.6m in height, is sometimes experienced along the main wharf. Berth l to Berth 3 are generally tolerable under these conditions, whereas Berth 4 and Berth 8 are by far the worst. The tanker berth is also subject to surge.

On the flood, a tidal current of 0.5 to 1 knot sets SW across the dredged approach channel, and past the tanker berth and Hofmeyer Wharf. The ebb current sets NE out of the lagoon, and when this is flooded, the current may attain a rate of 4 knots at springs.

Depths—Limitations.—The dredged channel leading to the main wharf is maintained at a depth of 12.8m over a width of 134m. Ships in the dredged channel must have an underkeel clearance of 1.2m.

Hofmeyer Wharf fronts the main part of town. With its extension (known as New Wharf), it is 1,400m long. Berth 1, Berth 2, and Berth 3 have a total length of 504m and a depth of 10.6m alongside. Vessels with a maximum length of 224m and a maximum draft of 10.4m can be accommodated.

New Wharf (Berths 4-8) has a length of 926m and depths of 10.6m alongside. At Berth 4 through Berth 8, a draft of 10m is acceptable, but ships must have an underkeel clearance of 0.6m at all times while alongside. A mechanized ore-loading plant is
situated at Berth 3. Ro-ro vessels use Berth 4 and Berth 6 while container vessels use Berth 7 and Berth 8.

A dolphin-type concrete tanker berth, 235m long and connected to the shore by a catwalk, lies on the E side of the inner end of the dredged entrance channel. A light is exhibited at each end of the tanker berth. Tankers 128m to 192m in length, with a maximum draft of 9.9m and not exceeding 25,000 tons displacement, can berth at the tanker berth.

A sea wall, extending about 1.5 miles NE of the tanker berth, has fish factories, with their own jetties, on it. A channel, dredged to 6.5m over a width of 100m, leads to the basin N of the sea wall. The basin is dredged to depths of 6 to 7m.

A shiplift, at the SW end of the fishing harbor wharf, can accept vessels of 2,000 tons displacement, 79m in length, and 6m draft.

Aspect.—The coast between the Swakop River and Walvisbaai consists of shifting sand dunes, 90 to 115m high, behind
the coastal sand dunes, which are 3 to 25m high and covered with sparse vegetation.

Spit Buoy is moored l.2 miles N of Pelican Point. Fairway Lighted Buoy is moored about 3 miles E of Pelican Point, 0.6 mile N of the entrance to the main dredged channel.

Pelican Point Light is shown from a black round tower, 34m high with white bands, about 1 mile SSW of Pelican Point; a racon is situated at the light. Radar reflectors around the tower provide good radar contact in the form of a star. A trellis-work beacon, 13m high, is situated about 0.5 mile SSW of the light.

The main channel is marked by lighted and unlighted buoys, however, the odd-numbered buoys are painted white. All buoys soon assume a white appearance due to being covered with guano by the teeming bird life in the area.

Lights, in range 183°, lead through the main channel. The front light is shown from a warehouse on Hofmeyer Wharf. The rear light is shown from a tower on a railway building about 0.3 mile S.

Lights, in range 246°, are situated close SW of the dredged basin. The sheds and cranes on the main wharf are prominent. The Fisheries Research Station, about 0.5 mile NE of the main wharf, is conspicuous, and is brilliantly lighted at night.

The Roman Catholic Church tower, 37m high, and surmounted by an illuminated cross, 5m in height, is also conspicuous about 0.7 mile farther S. Two radio masts; the taller, with an elevation of 70m and marked by red obstruction lights, stands about 0.2 mile NE of the Roman Catholic Church. A water tower is conspicuous about 0.7 mile SE of the same church.

Pilotage.—Pilotage is compulsory. Pilots board in the area 1 mile NW of Fairway Lighted Buoy and will conduct vessels through the dredged channel between 0600 and 2000. Departing vessels must leave the wharf not later than 2145. Vessels arriving at the night should anchor NW of Fairway Lighted Buoy.

Vessels wishing to proceed up the dredged channel should, between 0600 and 2200, contact Walvis Bay Port Control by VHF, giving at least 1 hour notice; when Port Control is closed, vessels should contact Pelican Point Light on VHF channel 1 or 16. In addition, vessels should contact Harbor Control on VHF channel 16, giving their ETA, when 12 miles N or S of Pelican Point Light, depending on their direction of approach. Port traffic is directed by VHF via the assistant port captain between 0600 and 2000. Radio reporting points have been established 11.5 miles NNW and 12.5 miles SSW of Pelican Point Light. There is a port radio station at Walvisbaai.

Anchorage.—Good anchorage, in mud, can be taken anywhere in the bay according to draft, remaining clear of the spoil grounds. Anchoring is prohibited within 0.6 mile of Fairway Lighted Buoy.

Caution.—When a ship is approaching from the S, it should be noted that the cranes on Hofmeyer Wharf give good radar returns which usually appear first on the screen. These should not be confused with the light pattern.

Great caution must be exercised when approaching Walvisbaai in thick or foggy weather, or at night, due to the low nature of the coast. Pelican Point is reported to be extending NE and vessels should not pass between the point and Spit Buoy. Depths in the bay outside the dredged areas are reported to be up to 2.5m less than charted. It has been reported (1997) that Pelican Point has extended up to 500m to the N and to lesser amounts to the E and W.

On June 1, 1900, an islet of mud and clay was formed by volcanic action, off the NE extremity of Pelican Point, close off the shore, where depths of 14.6m previously existed. Steam was observed rising from the N side of the islet, and a very strong odor of sulphuretted hydrogen prevailed. On June 7, the entire island disappeared and soundings indicated that the original depth of 14.6m was restored. In January, 1949, numerous bubbles were observed coming to the surface in Walvisbaai, followed by clouds of mud. These disintegrated, and a smell of sulphuretted hydrogen was noted. On March 6, 1951, three small islands appeared above the surface of the sea W of Pelican Point. The first island appeared shortly before sunset, and arose from a bubbling sea. It remained for about 1 hour and then subsided beneath the surface. The other two islands were farther out to seaward and appeared about the same time. They remained until daylight faded, and by morning had disappeared.

The concentration of sulphuretted hydrogen in the vicinity of Pelican Point is at times such that pale-colored lead paints and brasswork on ships are affected.

Directions.—The entrance to Walvisbaai is difficult to make out from seaward, even when approaching from S.

Approaching from N or NW, it is recommended to sight Swakopmund first, the town of which is conspicuous, especially when the sun is shining on the roofs of its buildings, making them visible in misty weather long before the land is sighted.

Approaching from S, the buildings of the town of Walvisbaai will first be seen over the Walvis Peninsula and will give a good radar echo, and if the weather is clear, no difficulty will be experienced in entering the bay. After passing Spit Buoy, course should not be altered for the main dredged channel until the Roman Catholic Church bears 160°. At night, lights, in range 183°, lead through the main channel. To avoid delay in entering due to mist, it is advantageous, when possible, for vessels to arrange their arrival time off the entrance to the bay to be not earlier than noon.

As the fog is at its maximum in the early morning and forenoon, and as the early part of the night is for the most part clear, vessels can nearly always enter the bay during the night, and can proceed alongside the wharf after daybreak, even in thick weather.

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