Namport adamant Lüderitz port expansion won’t harm Shark Island
Port authority says it's committed to preserving national heritage site
A report has warned that development at the Lüderitz port could destroy unmarked burial sites of many who died on Shark Island during the genocide.
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has reiterated that plans to expand the Lüderitz port for the green hydrogen project – jointly driven by the German and Namibian governments – will not erase parts of the Shark Island memorial site where the Nama and Ovaherero genocide concentration camp once stood.
Shark Island, also known as the 'Island of Death', served as a concentration camp for Nama and Ovaherero people who were victims of the 1904-1908 genocide perpetrated by colonial Germany.
Earlier this month, German non-profit organisation Forensis and Forensic Architecture (FA), a research agency based at the University of London, released research findings on the German colonial genocide in Namibia.
The study, a collaboration with the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) and the Nama Traditional Leadership Association (NTLA), “reconstructs the notorious colonial concentration camp at Shark Island, identifies new potential mass grave sites and reveals how plans by the Namibian government for the expansion of a nearby seaport will erase parts of the camp – and with them vital traces of colonial history."
Impact assessments
However, speaking on behalf of Namport, port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem told Namibian Sun that the port authority is committed to environmental sustainability and the preservation of national heritage sites such as Shark Island.
He said they have committed to conduct an underwater study for artefacts at the port of Lüderitz before the expansion takes off.
“As a responsible port authority, we will ensure that all our projects and operations are done in an environmentally sustainable manner and that we do not adversely affect national heritage sights such as Shark Island," he said.
"Namport fully respects the historical significance of Shark Island and the need to preserve it. The Namport Robert Harbour quay wall extension project development is physically separated from Shark Island since it occurs only in the adjacent waters east of Shark Island. All required environmental and archaeological impact assessment studies are currently being done, including an underwater inspection to look for any artefacts, etc., and no work will commence before all required approvals are in place,’ he explained.
Namport added that they are taking all concerns into account and will undertake all required studies and investigations, consult the public, gather public input and submit this to the environment ministry for a final decision.
However, the recently released report pointed out that the development will not only affect Shark Island but also destroy nearby unmarked burial sites, while the dredging of nearby waters will very likely disturb the remains of many who died at Shark Island and whose bodies were thrown into the water.
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Shark Island, also known as the 'Island of Death', served as a concentration camp for Nama and Ovaherero people who were victims of the 1904-1908 genocide perpetrated by colonial Germany.
Earlier this month, German non-profit organisation Forensis and Forensic Architecture (FA), a research agency based at the University of London, released research findings on the German colonial genocide in Namibia.
The study, a collaboration with the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) and the Nama Traditional Leadership Association (NTLA), “reconstructs the notorious colonial concentration camp at Shark Island, identifies new potential mass grave sites and reveals how plans by the Namibian government for the expansion of a nearby seaport will erase parts of the camp – and with them vital traces of colonial history."
Impact assessments
However, speaking on behalf of Namport, port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem told Namibian Sun that the port authority is committed to environmental sustainability and the preservation of national heritage sites such as Shark Island.
He said they have committed to conduct an underwater study for artefacts at the port of Lüderitz before the expansion takes off.
“As a responsible port authority, we will ensure that all our projects and operations are done in an environmentally sustainable manner and that we do not adversely affect national heritage sights such as Shark Island," he said.
"Namport fully respects the historical significance of Shark Island and the need to preserve it. The Namport Robert Harbour quay wall extension project development is physically separated from Shark Island since it occurs only in the adjacent waters east of Shark Island. All required environmental and archaeological impact assessment studies are currently being done, including an underwater inspection to look for any artefacts, etc., and no work will commence before all required approvals are in place,’ he explained.
Namport added that they are taking all concerns into account and will undertake all required studies and investigations, consult the public, gather public input and submit this to the environment ministry for a final decision.
However, the recently released report pointed out that the development will not only affect Shark Island but also destroy nearby unmarked burial sites, while the dredging of nearby waters will very likely disturb the remains of many who died at Shark Island and whose bodies were thrown into the water.
[email protected]
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