This is a Port of Entry.
See Namibia Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of the country - including new visa legislation introduced since April 2025.
PRE-ARRIVAL
There are 2 forms that are required by the local authorities here to streamline clearing in, particularly as both Customs and Immigration offices are closed over weekends and public holidays and thus staff need to be on standby for call outs. It should be noted that these 2 forms are not mandatory, or official, however they have been created to help ease the process so your co-operation is appreciated.
ADVANCE NOTIFICATION
It is recommended to call Port Control on VHF Channel 16 when passing Diaz Point. They normally will call out the relevant authorities depending on where they allocate berthing space/moorings or anchorage in co-ordination with the vessel skipper.
GENERAL PROCESS
Clearing is quick and easy with Immigration, Customs and the Harbour Master all next to the yacht club. Both Customs and Immigration charge a "call out" fee for after hours clearance (see Fees). Weekdays are better for clearing in, or, time your arrival for a Sunday and clear in on the Monday.
If you do arrive on a public holiday make sure you check in with officials, even if they cannot be contacted by Port officials. Cruisers report being reprimanded by Customs officials for not clearing in as soon as they arrived. See comments section (the speech bubble icon).
On departure, it is necessary to clear out with Customs and Port Control, even when going to Walvis Bay. Complete the form as noted above and e-mail to Port Control prior to clearing out.
AUTHORITIES
Port Control Luderitz (Namport)
Operate 24/7
VHF-CH 16
Tel: +264-63-2002007/8 or +264-(0)811427062.
E-mail 1: Portl@namport.com.na
E-mail 2: Senior.portl@namport.com.na (Mrs Evaldine Chimbuelengue)
If you need to speak to the Port Captain ask for advice from Port Control.
Customs
Operate Mon-Fri 08hoo to 17hoo. Call out charge after hours.
Tel: +264-63-202259
Standby contact Mrs Natasha Coetzee on Cell: +264(0) 814079474
Immigration
Operate Mon to Fri 08h00 to 17hoo. Call out charge after hours.
Tel: +264-63-203440
Standby contact Mr Kandume on Cell: +264(0)811278409.
Health
Operate Mon to Fri 08hoo to 16h30. Call out charge after hours.
Senior Health Officer Mr Nambambi on Cell: +264-(0)815560335
E-mali: nambambi01@gmail.com
Assistant Health Officer Mr Leonard Useb at Cell: +264(0)813966225
E-mail: useb3060@gmail.com.
If the staff driver is not available after hours a taxi fee will be applicable.
Last updated: April 2025
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May 2023 update:
The moorings are now NAD 200 per day. Be aware that the dinghy dock is not a public dock. You should ask permission to use it and pay (Andy knows where to go). We arrived on a public holiday. Port control tried to reach immigration and customs, but they didn’t answer. The next day we were reprimanded by the customs official for not checking in on the day we arrived. So make sure you do.
We got a sim card at MTC with just a passport (all done inside their shop on Bismarck Street).
Good rental car service at BB Car Rental at the top of Bismarck Street.
When departing, even if going to Walvis Bay, visit customs again, as well as Port Control.
January 4th, 2022: s/v TRANCE arrived in Luderitz from Cape Town
See the track and passage notes here: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Trance
As well as here: http://www.sailingtrance.com (sometime before next week)
Approach and Entry: From the south keep outside the 30 meter line to clear Halifax Reef. Navionics warns of lost mining gear, anchors and floating ropes… but we didn’t notice any of this debris. Once Dias Point bears SSE, then head to pass north of the N Cardinal buoy (26 36.9’S 15 07.5’E), off Angra Point. Then steer 120 deg to pass between the two cardinal buoys off Shark Island and Penguin Island into Robert Harbour (there are range markers on the eastern shore). Then turn south and head into the buoyed channel to Menai Creek, or straight ahead to the self-anchorage area. Entering at night and going to the self-anchorage area should be easy and safe.
Call Port Control on VHF 12 or 16 (24/7 hours) before entering Robert Harbour to be advised of shipping movements, this is important in poor visibility… fog and poor visibility are common on this coast.
Self-Anchorage or Mooring Buoy?: It is recommended that you get on a mooring buoy if available. Ask Port Control to contact Andy who will guide and help you. If available, Mooring Buoys at the south end of Menai Creek (26 38.434S 15 09.427E) where the Dinghy Dock, Luderitz Yacht Club, and all the places you’ll want to go are located. To arrange for a Mooring Buoy contact Andy +264 08 57244257, or have Port Control contact Andy and Andy will communicate on VHS 9. Andy is good… he will ask for R or N100/day for services, which includes mooring help, advice on where to go and what to visit, Andy will keep an eye on your boat if you go away. If you go on a trip, Andy will put your dinghy back on your boat while you’re gone, and he retrieve it when you return. All for just R or N100/day! Andy can also perform additional services… just ask Andy.
The Self-Anchorage area is free and located at 26 37.779S 15 09.628E, which is a much longer, possibly wetter, dinghy ride to/from the Dinghy Dock. You should not anchor in or near the mooring field. Besides swing room issues, the mud in the mooring field is about 2 feet thick, yet it’s like slate underneath the mud, anchors slide along the bottom in stiff breezes, which are common.
Health Check: Once on a mooring or at anchor, radio Port Control, and they will contact Health Ministry people and have them meet you at the Dinghy Dock or at the Luderitz Yacht Club, which is near the Dinghy Dock. The day before we left Cape Town, we had SARS-nCoV-19 RT-PCR testing performed by a Trusted Traveler System laboratory. The health person looked at our test result certificates, that said “none detected”, which was acceptable to him. We emailed the certificates to the Health Ministry person. Then, the Health Ministry person escorted us to Immigration to tell Immigration we passed the health checks. We arrived 75 hours after our testing time.
We understand you may have COVID testing performed here at your cost, yet it will delay your check-in process.
Immigration was quick & easy, and so was the visit Customs and Port Control. No fees were collected. Avoid lunch hours, afterhours, and weekends. All are a short walk from the Dinghy Dock. Andy also escorted us to all the check-in stops, and he showed us the location of a few highlights in town, as well as suggestions on shopping, restaurants and touring areas surrounding Luderitz.
Nice protected anchorage with some moorings available. Moorings are not officially maintained, but local sailor Andy did come over and point out which are better to use. Checking in was straight forward and there is a supermarket, bank and most stores all within walking distance of the port. Cell (mobile) phone connectivity is not great and local WiFi in cafes was very slow.
Fuel is available at the local service station which will deliver to the dock using your jerry cans. The yacht club is more of a restaurant only and opens in the evenings. Water is available from the yacht club. Luderitz does make for a pleasant and secure quick stop.