NAMDOCK Fosters Energy Efficiency in Namibia’s Maritime Sector

In an interview with ECP, Namibia Drydock & Ship Repair shares plans to position itself as the shipyard of the future by prioritizing sustainable procurement and implementing 4IR technologies.

How would you describe NAMDOCK’s current and future market position?

NAMDOCK is a world-class commercial shipyard. We are strategically located at the Port of Walvis Bay, where we service the seafarers that operate along the west coast of Africa. We are a catalyst for job creation where we train people in marine engineering, welding and propulsion services, to name a few. Our future activities are promising in the sense that the discoveries of oil and gas in Namibia are providing a brighter future. Our core business – currently and in the future – will largely depend on maritime, which includes fishing vessels and also offshore supply vessels, particularly for oil and gas. We would like to venture into Namibia’s mining industries in terms of fabrication, then diversify our portfolio in terms of the skills required to play in that field.

What measures are being put in place to ensure a modern energy system for sustainable operations at NAMDOCK?

To provide a sustainable operation normally requires a lot of investment. As we are looking into the oil and gas sector, it means that we have to invest in technologies that would allow us to meet the oil and gas standards, for example, the ISO 3834 standard when it comes to welding. We would also need to have people trained in the non-destructive testing of metals, and complying with class. We are also doing a baseline assessment of our digital maturity – we are looking into the fourth industrial revolution, which involves digital integration, digitalization and the utilization of digital space to create a business model that provides us with new revenue.

What contributions has NAMDOCK made to local communities?

During the pandemic, we built a COVID-19 care center, representing a two-million-dollar investment. Similarly, NAMDOCK renovated local hospitals to the tune of approximately $2.5 million as part of our social responsibility contributions. We also make contributions to the community in which we donate to the food bank of the local municipality. In terms of businesses, there are about 92 different businesses that contribute to the existence of NAMDOCK, and in terms of the community, there is a school – Promised Land – to which NAMDOCK contributes daily meals for the children attending.

What are your top priorities when it comes to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards? 

ESG is a space that we are just entering. It is very exciting. In terms of our strategy, everything that we do has to be driven by energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint. Waste management is an initiative that we have begun and are pushing for, so that we can implement it across the entire organization. In terms of emissions reduction, we want to be a green shipyard. Anything that we do has to be through procurement – we are striving to purchase materials that are only from sustainable materials. In terms of social strategy, this involves our corporate social investment programs, in terms of what we do and how we have contributed socially. Finally, in terms of governance, it is being ethical by adhering to ethical business practices, ensuring board diversity and preserving independence. It is important for us to be compliant, whether it is with class, IMO or the various ISOs. This is how we compete with quality and service deliveries.

Energy Capital & Power is a strategic partner of the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) – taking place in Windhoek on April 23-25, 2024. The 6th annual conference unites industry leaders, business executives and policymakers to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, create new partnerships and identify strategies to foster a prosperous energy industry in Namibia and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.nieconference.com/