A skipper for Mauritian repair yard
Taylor Smith Shipyard (TSS), the oldest ship repair yard on Mauritius, has appointed Willy van Niekerk as its new general manager. TSS recently added civil construction services involving steel works for land projects to its marine portfolio.
Van Niekerk knows the yard well and has been assistant general manager since 2022. He has a broad experience in the maritime and offshore industries and took to the sea at 14 as a school holiday job on a converted fishing vessel. He then decided to study marine engineering.
Van Niekerk sailed on container ships and bulk carriers trading worldwide and rose to the position of chief engineer before he embarked on a shore-based career. Here, his roles have varied from technical superintendent, newbuild superintendent to ship manager and dry dock manager. He has worked in South Africa, Germany, and South Korea. (cj)