Taiwanese company Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) has bought the construction and flex lay vessel Polar Onyx and started work to convert the ship for cable laying in the offshore wind sector.
The company, which is a subsidiary of Hung Hua Construction, said the purchase demonstrates commitment by DFO, Hung Hua and the Taiwanese offshore contracting community to deliver international standard services and develop a regional marine champion in offshore wind construction and maintenance activities.
The vessel is the first flexible lay vessel owned by a Taiwanese company, and will be the first vessel of its kind to fly the Taiwanese flag once reflagging is completed in the first half of 2022.
The vessel is currently in Europe and will arrive in Taiwan in the first half of 2022.
It is already booked for its first project supporting cable installation and burial works for an unnamed offshore wind contractor.
DFO has started engineering for the conversion, which will take place in Taiwan with an estimated completion at the end of 2023.
The Norwegian-built vessel is 130 metres long, 25 metres wide and is fitted with a DP3 positioning system and a 250-tonne heave compensated crane.
It is fitted with diesel-electric propulsion, accommodation for 130 persons, over 1700 metres squared of deck space and two fully integrated work class ROVs.
DFO chief executive Polin Chen said: “We look forward to constructive dialogue with developers and contractors to deliver localised solutions, high-value green jobs for Taiwanese and ultimately accelerate Taiwan’s transition to green energy.”