Meliza Boer - Service & Refit Manager

Employee Story: Meliza Boer

“No two days are the same, and that variety is exactly what gives me energy”

When Meliza Boer joined MSN in 2019, she knew exactly what she was looking for: a role where theory and practical experience come together within the maritime sector. She found that combination as a Project Coordinator working on projects in the luxury yacht industry. After more than five years, it was time for a new challenge, and she moved into her current role as Service & Refit Manager.

Her interest in shipbuilding began during her vocational education in Mechatronics. During an internship at Eekels, working on-site at Ferus Smit, she was introduced to the industry for the first time. The dynamic nature of shipbuilding immediately appealed to her. From there, she decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in Leeuwarden. Through a secondment agency, she was eventually matched with MSN, a company that was a perfect fit for what she was looking for.

“I was looking for a role where engineering and practical work come together. At MSN, I get that combination as well as plenty of variety..”

Variety from initial request to project completion

What Meliza enjoys about her current role is the enormous diversity of tasks. As Service & Refit Manager, she is responsible for service, warranty and refit projects within commercial shipping, as well as projects involving alternative fuels. Whereas newbuild projects are built from the ground up, refit projects focus on renewing, improving and modernising existing vessels, with MSN focusing on prefabricated piping.

Her working week typically starts by reviewing new requests and ongoing projects. She then manages the entire process: from customer contact and preparing quotations to purchasing materials, organising the execution and handling the final invoicing. Throughout the process, she works closely with colleagues from various departments.

“Every project is different. The variety and working with so many different colleagues are exactly what make my job so enjoyable.”

Working together in a close-knit organisation

In addition to the content of her work, Meliza particularly values the culture at MSN. Thanks to the open-door policy and informal atmosphere, the organisation feels approachable. Everyone knows each other, communication lines are short and colleagues are always ready to help one another.

Because the different departments work closely together, projects can be picked up quickly and customers receive the quality they expect. Meliza experiences that commitment every day.

Room to show who you are 

Meliza is especially proud of the way she has found her place within the maritime sector. Although the industry is still predominantly male, she feels completely at home and is confident in handling any situation.

At the same time, MSN has given her the opportunity to continue developing herself. Moving from Project Coordinator to Service & Refit Manager gave her more responsibility, greater variety and a role in which she can continue to grow professionally.

“What makes MSN special to me is the combination of challenging work, committed colleagues and the freedom to continue developing yourself.”