A decade of engineering service excellence at Kongsberg Maritime Namibia
Kongsberg Maritime Namibia (Pty) Ltd Service engineer Nestor Petukeni Ndapuka has reached a significant long-service milestone, marking 10 years of dedicated service to the company and the maritime sector through sustained technical excellence, professional growth and global service delivery.
Ndapuka currently serves as a service engineer specialising in propulsion and handling systems. His role involves the repair and overhaul of critical propulsion components, including thrusters, controllable pitch propellers, steering gears, and main engines. He also provides product management and technical support to customers, ensuring vessels operate reliably and efficiently under demanding conditions.
His path with the company began after being drawn to its clear vision, strong product-market fit, technical excellence, and innovative culture.
These factors, combined with consistent opportunities for learning, measurable impact, and a clear pathway for career progression, motivated him to remain with the organisation for more than a decade.
Continued investment in professional development and the ability to contribute to improved vessel operations at sea further reinforced his commitment.
Growth
Ndapuka joined Kongsberg as a mechanical intern and progressed to service technician before advancing to service engineer.
Over time, his responsibilities expanded beyond hands-on mechanical repairs to include broader service engineering functions, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership roles within the service organisation, including ECC chair responsibilities. This evolution reflects both personal growth and organisational trust.
One of the most significant challenges he faced was working as a field engineer across more than 20 countries, where language barriers and diverse communication styles complicated technical engagements.
He overcame this by adopting proactive communication, developing cultural awareness, and tailoring technical explanations to suit different audiences. By leveraging local mentors, standardised service documentation, and shared knowledge across teams, he improved consistency, client satisfaction, and issue resolution times.
Mentorship
Among his proudest achievements is training and mentoring interns, helping them become competent technicians who contribute effectively to field operations and customer support.
During his tenure, the company underwent strategic restructuring of its product portfolio, creating both disruption and opportunity. Ndapuka adapted by embracing cross-training initiatives, broadening his technical scope, and remaining flexible to evolving responsibilities.
Supported by strong technical and field service teams and guided by mentorship from senior service engineer Jerome Galichet, Ndapuka remains motivated by customer impact, continuous learning, and solving complex engineering challenges worldwide.
