An asset-light model for offshore growth

Angola

Fred Silva, CEO of Navilog Group, talks to The Energy Year about the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on investor interest in African markets and the company’s new partnership in offshore services.

Navilog Group is an integrated provider of logistics and freight services.

• Africa is drawing stronger attention as economies globally seek to diversify their oil and gas supplies; converting this interest into long-term investment in Angola will depend on regulatory reforms to protect the commercial potential of projects.
• Offshore services are becoming a growing opportunity in African energy markets, particularly for companies with inspections, vessel support and technical expertise, and access to international technologies.
• In a context of uncertain project pipelines, Navilog’s asset-light logistics model enables a fast response to market demand without the risk of idle vessels or equipment.

How has Navilog’s market position evolved over the past 12 months?
The developments in the Middle East at the beginning of 2026 introduced a degree of uncertainty into global markets and naturally impacted operational dynamics across several sectors. Despite these external pressures, Navilog Group remained focused on executing its long-term strategic plan, centred on strengthening internal procedures, consolidating operational standards and reinforcing the capabilities of our teams.
As with many growing organisations, we experienced some personnel transitions as employees pursued new professional opportunities. In response, we invested significantly in recruiting and training new talent, ensuring alignment with the company’s culture, operational standards and long-term vision. Maintaining a cohesive and high-performing team remains one of our key priorities.
At the same time, we have continued to expand our strategic partnerships. One of the most important developments has been our joint venture with Apply Technologies from Ghana, which represents a significant step forward in broadening our offshore service capabilities. In parallel, through one of our clients in Abu Dhabi, we have also been supporting Sapura Group operations by providing vessel provisioning and logistics support services.
At Navilog, we are highly selective regarding partnerships. We pursue collaborations that are aligned with our values, operational philosophy and long-term strategic objectives. We particularly value partnerships that contribute specialised expertise, technical know-how or technologies capable of strengthening our internal competencies and enhancing the quality of services we provide to clients.
While logistics remains our core business, including cargo movement, personnel logistics, visa support and equipment rental, the partnership with Apply Technologies enables us to expand into offshore operations, pipeline inspections and other services that are increasingly in demand across the energy and maritime industries.

Have the recent developments in the Middle East changed your outlook on African markets, and where do you see opportunities emerging?
There is undoubtedly growing international attention on Africa, particularly as global investors and operators continue seeking diversification and new growth opportunities. However, while interest is increasing, the transition from market interest to tangible investment and long-term operational commitments may still require time.
Angola continues to hold substantial potential due to its strategic geographic position, natural resources and energy sector opportunities. At the same time, some of the structural and regulatory frameworks that historically challenged international participation remain areas that require evolution to facilitate stronger foreign investment and commercial confidence.
One project we are closely monitoring is the Kaminho development in Angola. Several contracts associated with the project are expected to conclude between 2026 and 2027, potentially opening opportunities for participation in subsequent phases. In this regard, our joint venture with Apply Technologies positions us favourably, particularly due to their offshore expertise and relationships with European companies whose technologies and operational standards could be successfully implemented in Angola.
Ghana is also a market of significant interest to us, and we are evaluating opportunities to strengthen our presence there. Namibia is yet another country attracting considerable international attention and investment, particularly in energy, and we are exploring the possibility of establishing a local office to support future operations.
We are also assessing opportunities in Brazil, where market fundamentals remain positive, particularly in the infrastructure and construction sectors. The proposed China-backed rail connection project between Brazil and Peru has the potential to create substantial demand across logistics, transportation and associated support services.

What internal preparations are you making to capture future opportunities?
Our primary focus internally continues to be the strengthening and development of our teams. We currently have 22 employees and are in the process of integrating additional personnel to support the company’s continued growth.
Growth naturally brings new ideas, perspectives and capabilities, but it also requires strong alignment and leadership to maintain operational efficiency and organisational cohesion. For this reason, considerable emphasis is being placed on internal integration, training and ensuring that all departments remain aligned with Navilog’s strategic objectives and operational standards.
Operational flexibility is a key element of our business model, and we have been evaluating opportunities to charter additional vessels to support future projects and respond more efficiently to market demand. However, we intentionally maintain an asset-light structure and do not directly own vessels, as this allows us to avoid idle assets between projects while leveraging the strong relationships we have built with vessel owners and operators over time.
This approach provides us with the flexibility to respond rapidly to requests for quotations and operational opportunities coming from multiple agents and clients across different markets. In our industry, success depends not only on identifying the right opportunities, but also on having the agility, operational readiness and commercial discipline to act decisively when those opportunities arise.

Read our latest insights on:

• Angola
• Brazil
• Ghana
• Namibia