With what is now their fifth newbuild contract in two years, the Norwegian Fincantieri subsidiary Vard and the Taiwan-based shipping company Dong Fang Offshore are strengthening their partnership.
The Norwegian specialised shipyard Vard and DFO have signed a contract for the design and construction of a so-called Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV). Based on the VARD 4 39 design, the vessel is intended to further strengthen DFO’s offshore capabilities in the fields of wind power, energy and power cables. According to official figures, the contract is worth “between €66 and €75 million”.
The shipyard and the shipping company are now quite familiar with one another. Since early summer 2024, contracts have already been signed for five newbuilds: two CSOVs in May 2024 and two further vessels – including an offshore construction vessel (OCV) for subsea operations – in spring 2025.
However, construction will not take place in Norway at Vard’s main shipyard, but in Asia. There – as in Brazil and Romania – Vard operates its own shipyard: Vard Vung Tau, near Ho Chi Minh City. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2028. “We are impressed by the quality and capabilities of the Vard Vung Tau shipyard and look forward to another newbuild that will meet our customers’ high standards of comfort and quality,” said Polin Chen, CEO of DFO.
The shipping company operates a fleet of 17 specialised vessels in total (including those under construction) – ranging from small vessels (27 m) to large cable-laying vessels (130 m). They are primarily deployed in offshore wind farms, from initial exploration through to construction and long-term operation and maintenance.
“Together with our owner, Fincantieri, we develop bespoke vessels worldwide that meet our customers’ specific ambitions, operational requirements and market opportunities. This vessel is the result of close and constructive collaboration with DFO,” emphasised Roger Sandnes, SVP Sales at Vard and responsible for the commercial aspects of the contract.
The new vessel is set to become an “extremely versatile offshore platform”, designed for subsea operations, installation and maintenance work in the offshore wind sector, as well as for the laying and repair of cables in the offshore wind and power cable sectors. By combining an optimised hull shape with a high-performance propulsion system, the vessel offers excellent seakeeping, reduced ship movements and accelerations, as well as high precision in position-keeping, according to the Norwegians. A battery-hybrid solution has been chosen for the propulsion system.
The design includes the option for a 70-t offshore crane with active heave compensation (AHC) for underwater operations, a 700 m² working deck equipped for cable-laying and repair equipment, and an ROV launch and recovery system (LARS). The vessel is also designed to accommodate a helicopter deck. The vessel can accommodate 120 people in over 90 cabins.
Vard intends to manage the entire project through its integrated value chain – including design, hull construction, outfitting and system integration, right through to commissioning and delivery.
Key technical specifications of the new Vard vessel for DFO:
- Length: 102.5 m
- Beam: 19.5 m
- 32-metre ECMC gangway system (W2W)
- 3D motion-compensated ECMC crane (C25)
- Option for a 70-t offshore crane with active heave compensation
- 700 m² working deck
- Prepared for cable repair and laying equipment
- Prepared for ROV operations (deployment and recovery)
- Maximum speed: 14 kn
- Dynamic positioning system (DP2)
