On April 3, Norway’s VARD announced that it has signed a contract with the Taiwanese based company Dong Fang Offshore for the design and construction of one Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel, with option(s). The vessel is of VARD 3 39 design. The value of the contract is EUR 113,5 mill.
Dong Fang Offshore has appointed VARD to design and construct an Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel of VARD 3 39 design. This is the third vessel VARD is building for DFO, with the first two being Commissioning Service Operations Vessels, contracted in May 2024.
The vessel contracted is a highly versatile platform designed and equipped for subsea operation duties, offshore wind operations & maintenance activities, as well as cable installation and repair scopes in the offshore wind and telecoms sectors. With its highly optimized hull form together with a powerful propulsion configuration, the vessel will have particularly good sea-keeping capabilities, including reduced motions and accelerations and excellent station keeping performance. The design has focused on the environmental footprint with an efficient machinery and propulsion set-up for high station keeping capabilities including battery hybrid propulsion, delivering improved workability and operational reliability.
The vessel is fitted with a 250 MT active heave compensated offshore crane which enables the vessel to perform advanced subsea operations, a 1,200 m2 work deck prepared for a cable repair or cable lay spread, and ROV hangars prepared for built-in ROVs on both sides.
The large design flexibility allows the vessel to accommodate future operational demands. The vessel is prepared for the installation of a motion compensated gangway, an under-deck carousel, the installation of a large trencher and is in addition prepared for helideck installation.
The vessel has 90 cabins to accommodate 130 people on board. Operational centers such as offices, briefing rooms, conference room/cinema and dayrooms have been designed to meet a high standard in the market, and furnishings will be completed to a premium standard by Vard interiors.
DFO was established in 2019 to deliver high quality marine construction, operations and maintenance services for the offshore wind, energy and telecoms industries. The company aspires to be the supplier of choice to deliver international standard cable installation and repair solutions in the wind and telecoms industries, operations and maintenance solutions for offshore wind farms, and the delivery of turnkey marine construction solutions in Asia Pacific. DFO has emerged as a contractor with the largest fit for purpose fleet of modern vessels in APAC, with strong local competence and industry-leading operational delivery and quality.