Taiwanese offshore wind contractor Dong Fang orders subsea vessel

The deal for the vessel, a Vard 3 39 design, includes options for further vessels and is valued at €113.5M (US$125.9).

Established in 2019, Dong Fang Offshore provides marine construction and operation and maintenance services for the offshore wind and telecoms industries. 

The new vessel will be the third Vard has built for the Taiwanese company, the first two being commissioning service operation vessels. With a length overall of 121 m and a beam of 23 m, it will have a maximum speed of 14 knots and a DP2 dynamic positioning system.

The new vessel will be a versatile platform designed and equipped for subsea projects, operation and maintenance activity on offshore windfarms and cable installation and repair.

Vard said the vessel will have an optimised hullform and powerful propulsion configuration that will ensure good seakeeping capability with reduced motions and accelerations and excellent station keeping performance. 

The designer said the vessel will also have an efficient machinery and propulsion set-up for high-level stationkeeping and will use battery-hybrid propulsion.

The vessel will be fitted with a 250-tonne active heave compensated offshore crane and have a 1,200-m² work deck prepared for a cable repair or cable lay spread, along with hangars for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), with the ability to operate ROVs from both sides of the vessel.

The vessel will be prepared for the installation of a motion-compensated gangway, an under-deck carousel, a trencher and will also be prepared for installation of a helideck. It will have accommodation for up to 130 people on board and have a range of offices and briefing rooms, a conference room/cinema and dayrooms designed to a high standard.

The hull of the vessel will be built at Vard Shipyards in Braila, Romania and outfitting, commissioning and delivery will take place at Vard Søviknes in Norway. Delivery is scheduled for early in Q2 2027.