Country Manager for DNV Maritime and Offshore Namibia, Bertrand Albert, says 18 fully Namibian-owned companies have obtained ISO and class-related certification through the organisation within its first year of operating in the country.
The certifications come as local businesses move to meet strict compliance standards required by international operators, improving their chances of participating in Namibia’s emerging offshore oil and gas sector.
Albert said DNV, headquartered in Oslo, operates in more than 80 countries and employs around 15,000 people globally.
The company is responsible for classifying about 21% of the global fleet, as well as 364 mobile offshore units, representing roughly 57% market share, and 80 floating production units, accounting for around 45%.
“We have 18 fully Namibian-owned companies that have gained certification with DNV, and I think we should give a round of applause to those who have achieved this goal,” said Albert.
The update was shared at the Petrofund Upstream Oil and Gas Local Suppliers Workshop, where certification was highlighted as a key requirement for supplier participation in offshore oil and gas activities.
Albert said certification is not standardised across all businesses, noting that ISO certification is tailored to the specific services provided, including maritime, catering and technical operations.
“When we issue ISO certification, we are very cautious. We do not just give it away. We make sure that your business model is aligned with the operations you are undertaking,” he added.
He said DNV also applies class certification frameworks used by operators and contractors, supported by technical standards developed through global research and development, which account for about 6% of the organisation’s revenue.
The company said certification is closely linked to safety, operational performance and asset integrity, with service providers required to comply with verification and inspection processes throughout the lifecycle of offshore infrastructure.
Albert said certification pathways remain open to more Namibian suppliers, particularly in technical service areas such as inspection, welding and testing, as the sector moves closer to project development.
