Taiwan’s Dong Fang Offshore has ordered a new commissioning service operation vessel from VARD, with battery-hybrid propulsion, digital vessel monitoring and equipment for offshore wind, subsea and cable work. The EUR 66m to EUR 75m contract gives DFO a multi-purpose vessel designed to support offshore energy projects across their full operating lifecycle.
Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) has ordered a new commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) from VARD, expanding a partnership that has already produced four previous newbuild contracts.
The 102.5-metre vessel will be based on VARD’s 4 39 design and is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2028 from Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam. The contract is worth between EUR 66m and EUR 75m.
The vessel will combine offshore wind installation and maintenance work with subsea operations and power cable installation and repair. Its equipment includes a 32-metre walk-to-work gangway, a 3D motion-compensated crane, a 700m² work deck and preparation for an ROV launch and recovery system and cable-lay equipment.
Battery-hybrid propulsion will support the vessel’s power and automation system, with Vard Electro supplying an integrated system monitored through SeaQ Green Pilot. Vessel data will be collected through VARD’s cloud service, giving shore teams access to operational information.
The vessel will also feature SeaQ Bridge, which provides a single interface for monitoring and controlling onboard systems.
For DFO, the combination of hybrid power, digital monitoring and flexible offshore equipment gives one vessel several roles across offshore wind and energy projects. The design also includes accommodation for 120 people across 90 cabins, with operational spaces designed around offshore work and crew requirements.
“We are very happy to make a repeat order with VARD for a new CSOV that has the option for subsea capability, allowing DFO to deliver more comprehensive subsea solutions for our regional offshore wind and energy customers across the lifecycle of their projects,” said Polin Chen, CEO of DFO.
The order is the fifth newbuild contract between the companies since 2024. DFO currently operates or has under construction 17 vessels, ranging from 27-metre vessels to 130-metre cable-laying ships.
