South African diesel engine experts Nouum Engineering has signed a cooperation agreement with Taylor Smith Shipyard (TSS) in Mauritius to expand both companies abilities and operations.
Nouum will “provide” qualified marine engineers to work at Taylor Smith’s Mauritius site, focusing on engine maintenance and repair, including for equipment like turbochargers and automation systems.
The agreement will thereby grow services TSS can offer at the Indian Ocean site, and expand Nouum’s business in that part of the world.
“This cooperation provides Taylor Smith Shipyard with the opportunity to accept more and significantly larger engine overhaul jobs and other types of engineering work in the region, and even globally,” TSS general manager Willy va Niekerk explained.
“With Nouum we have found a strong and highly experienced partner to attain the growth that we envision in the coming years,” he added.
The new agreement and future work at the shipyard means Nouum can add Mauritius to its operational bases in Cape Town and Durban in South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Madagascar, and Nigeria.
Nigeria is a key growth market for the international shipping industry, exemplified by Maersk’s recent significant investment in its ports system.
The signing also confirms a growth period for TSS, which explained its MRO facilities are not the only part of its business invested in.
The yard has set up a new sales, after-sales service and training team available to further support clients, it explained. The mobile Harbour & Voyage Repair team is also experiencing a boost in business, TSS noted.
Tom Martin, CEO of Nouum added: “Through this partnership service more clients faster and better. Our main focus is the Sub-Saharan African market and the Indian Ocean, but we’ll also cooperate globally.”
TSS in Mauritius offers:
• 13,500m2 of yard space
• Two graving drydocks
- Stevenson drydock: 130m x 18m x 5m
- Hay drydock: 100m x 14m x 4.2m
• Travel lift (150 t)
• Two repair quays, each capable of taking vessels of 110m with max. 5 m draft.
