DFO orders third newbuild offshore vessel from VARD

Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) has commissioned VARD to engineer and build an offshore subsea construction vessel of the VARD 3 39 design.

DFO, based in Taichung City, Taiwan, provides marine construction, operations and maintenance services for the offshore wind and energy sectors in the Asia-Pacific region.

This will be VARD’s third delivery to the company; it is also supplying two commissioning service operations vessels, both contracted in May 2024.

The subsea construction vessel will be equipped for subsea operations, offshore wind operations and maintenance, cable installations and repairs.

According to VARD, the optimized hull form and propulsion configuration should provide good sea-keeping, with reduced motions and accelerations.

Other features will include battery hybrid propulsion, a 250-metric-ton active heave compensated offshore crane for subsea operations, a 1,200-sq-m work deck to support a cable repair or cable-lay spread, and ROV hangars for built-in ROVs on both sides.

To accommodate future operational needs, the vessel will be prepared for the installation of a motion-compensated gangway, an under-deck carousel, a large trencher and installation of a helideck. The vessels 90 cabins will accommodate up to 130 people.

The hull will be built in Vard Shipyards Romania – Braila, with outfitting and commissioning performed at Vard Søviknes in Norway. The completed vessel is due to be delivered in second-quarter 2027.