New General Manager for Taylor Smith Shipyard

Willy van Niekerk to head up Mauritian repair yard.

Taylor Smith Shipyard (TSS), the oldest ship repair yard on Mauritius, has appointed mr. Willy van Niekerk as new General Manager. The management of Taylor Smith Group, of which the yard is a subsidiary, heartily welcomes mr. Van Niekerk in his new position and looks forward to see him further develop and expand the yard’s docking, salvage and (afloat) repair services, based on the wealth of experience that Van Niekerk brings to the job. Indeed, under his management, TSS has already expanded into civil construction services, carrying out steel works for land projects in addition to its marine portfolio.

Willy van Niekerk knows the yard well and was Assistant General Manager since 2022. He has broad experience in the maritime and offshore industries, taking to sea at 14 as a school holiday job on a converted fishing vessel and deciding to study marine engineering as a result.

Throughout the years, Van Niekerk sailed on container ships and bulk carriers trading worldwide and  becoming Chief Engineer in the process before embarked on a shore based career. His roles ashore varied from Technical Superintendent, Newbuild Superintendent, Ship Manager and Dry Dock Manager, working in South Africa, Germany and South Korea.

In his new role, he will be responsible for modernising the yard, expanding its regional scope and portfolio, and tapping into new markets. Van Niekerk: “Knowing the yard, the team and the Group, I am looking forward to growing the company and its activities to such an extent that we become the yard that everyone wants to use.”

Former MD Thierry Bétuel becomes CEO Marine Cluster
Mr. Van Niekerk is the successor to mr. Thierry  Bétuel, who managed the yard for 29 years, after spending  11 years in the Merchant Navy and being a Salvage Master before joining Taylor Smith Shipyard in 1994. Mr. Bétuel is not leaving the company, however, as he has been appointed CEO Marine Cluster of the Taylor Smith Group, which comprises other marine divisions within the group and marine suppliers in addition to the repair yard.

Van Niekerk: “Thierry’s are big shoes to fill! He was and is integral to who we are and what we do. Note that he took over from his father, Yves Bétuel, who also headed up our yard for decades. The Bétuel family is very experienced in maritime matters, has a heart for the business and I am looking forward to continue working together with Thierry.”

Taylor Smith Shipyard
Taylor Smith Shipyard is part of the Taylor and Smith families’ group of companies. Within the company many people have worked and continue to work from father and mother to daughter and son – it is truly a family-owned company with generations of expertise in drydocking and ship repair.

Operations at TSS date back to 1868. The shipyard is located in Port Louis, Mauritius and formed the basis of what is now Taylor Smith Group, a company comprising of 38 businesses, 6 associate companies and 1650 employees.

Under the motto ‘empower, respect, innovate’ TSS offers marine services to virtually all vessel types in the Indian Ocean, ranging from fishing vessels, workboats, container ships and private yachts to drilling rigs, offshore support and installation vessels, FPSO’s and naval vessels. Services include all types of repair works, salvage projects, engine overhauls, liferaft services and more. TSS is specialised in large steel works and deploys a team of experienced underwater welders.

Van Niekerk: “The global exposure I had throughout the years of ship construction, repair and ship management were beyond valuable. As Dry Dock Manager I spent many hours in the bottom of docks getting the vessels completed in time and on budget. These experiences serve me well in my new role at Taylor Smith, as I plan to do just that together with our capable staff.”