New joint venture ‘sign of confidence in Walvis Bay’

WALVIS Bay is increasingly becoming a harbour of choice on Africa’s west coast.

Of the five major ports on the western seaboard, it is now a key area for ship repairs and other marine engineering services, especially with the oil field growth in West Africa. “There is a great future in the marine engineering business at Walvis Bay,” Johann Venter, Executive Director of DCD-Dorbyl in South Africa, said at the inauguration of a joint venture between his company and the Ohlthaver and List (O&L) company, Kraatz Marine, on Friday.Initiated in July 2002, the joint venture gives O&L 51 per cent shares and Dorbyl 49 per cent.Chairperson and CEO of O&L, Sven Thieme, said the main objective was to secure the economic viability of Kraatz Welding and Engineering Works, as the company was previously known.”In Dorbyl Marine, we found a strong partner with extensive expertise in ship repair requirements on the South African seaboard.”Thieme said the joint venture had projected Kraatz Marine back into profitability after years of failing turnover.”This was mainly achieved through the benefits of mutual synergies and the application of new procedures to control costs,” he said.Minister of Trade and Industry, Jesaya Nyamu, who gave the keynote address, welcomed the concept of joint ventures.He said while Government focused on streamlining and harmonising trade and economic relations through negotiations with various economic blocks “we should prepare ourselves for any eventuality by joining hands with established companies”.He said joint ventures should complement Government efforts by contributing to human resource development and poverty reduction.Thieme said there would be increasing benefits for Kraatz Marine’s 67 employees through the transfer of expertise and know-how.An adult basic education programme had already proven successful and popular among the workforce, and would be implemented across the whole group.Dorbyl Marine complies with the requirements of the ISO 9002 quality standard and adheres to international safety regulations.The company is affiliated to Dorbyl Limited, which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.Kraatz Marine is one of the biggest marine engineering companies at Walvis Bay.Its core activities include ship repairs, mechanical engineering work, retail in steel and marine cleaning and painting.”There is a great future in the marine engineering business at Walvis Bay,” Johann Venter, Executive Director of DCD-Dorbyl in South Africa, said at the inauguration of a joint venture between his company and the Ohlthaver and List (O&L) company, Kraatz Marine, on Friday.Initiated in July 2002, the joint venture gives O&L 51 per cent shares and Dorbyl 49 per cent.Chairperson and CEO of O&L, Sven Thieme, said the main objective was to secure the economic viability of Kraatz Welding and Engineering Works, as the company was previously known.”In Dorbyl Marine, we found a strong partner with extensive expertise in ship repair requirements on the South African seaboard.”Thieme said the joint venture had projected Kraatz Marine back into profitability after years of failing turnover.”This was mainly achieved through the benefits of mutual synergies and the application of new procedures to control costs,” he said.Minister of Trade and Industry, Jesaya Nyamu, who gave the keynote address, welcomed the concept of joint ventures.He said while Government focused on streamlining and harmonising trade and economic relations through negotiations with various economic blocks “we should prepare ourselves for any eventuality by joining hands with established companies”.He said joint ventures should complement Government efforts by contributing to human resource development and poverty reduction.Thieme said there would be increasing benefits for Kraatz Marine’s 67 employees through the transfer of expertise and know-how.An adult basic education programme had already proven successful and popular among the workforce, and would be implemented across the whole group.Dorbyl Marine complies with the requirements of the ISO 9002 quality standard and adheres to international safety regulations.The company is affiliated to Dorbyl Limited, which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.Kraatz Marine is one of the biggest marine engineering companies at Walvis Bay.Its core activities include ship repairs, mechanical engineering work, retail in steel and marine cleaning and painting.

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