The shipbuilding company Vard, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri group, has signed a new contract for the design and construction of a Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) with Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), one of the largest suppliers of offshore support units in the Asia-Pacific region. The agreement represents the exercise of an option provided for in the contract signed with DFO in April this year for an OSCV ship. This is the third unit CSOV that Vard will build for this customer, after the first two ordered in May 2024.

The new unit will be based on the VARD 4 39 design, specially designed for DFO, with a highly versatile and equipped for sustainable AI support operations wind farms, both during the service and installation phases. Designed to provide maximum flexibility for future operational needs, the ship will be distinguished by the reduced environmental impact thanks to propulsion systems and high-efficiency machinery, high capacity manoeuvrability at sea, stability and high precision in maintaining position. It also has the possibility of installing a modular system for the repair of fiber optic cables and power cables.

The ship, about 102.7 meters long and 19.5 meters wide, will be equipped with a fully electric crane, a walk-to-work, the SeaQ Integrated Bridge system, a power supply and automation system. In addition, it will be equipped with a 1,240 kWh energy storage system for hybrid propulsion, the predisposition for connection to ground, a heat recovery system and innovative technologies for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). The ship will be able to accommodate up to 120 people in high-end cabins standard.

The ship will be built, fitted out and delivered to the Vung Tau Vard shipyard in Vietnam, with delivery scheduled for first quarter of 2028.