Orsted has signed a contract for the first Taiwan-flagged service operation vessel (SOV) for its 900MW Greater Changhua 1&2a offshore wind farms.
Ta San Shang Marine, a joint venture between Taiwan’s Ta Tong Marine Group and Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), will build the vessel.
The SOV is scheduled for delivery in early 2022 and will use the Port of Taichung as its base, where Orsted’s future operations and maintenance (O&M) facilities will be located.
Taichung is close to the Greater Changhua sites, located 35-60km from shore, and can accommodate deep draft vessels.
The SOV is the first to be built to fit the “complicated and harsh environment” in the Taiwan Strait, Orsted said.
It will house up to 60 technicians plus the crew and will only need to return to shore once a month.
The vessel will be equipped with advanced technologies, such as a motion-compensated walk-to-work gangway.
The SOV will also use a dynamic positioning system to automatically maintain its position and a 3D motion-compensated crane to mitigate wind induced motions on the loads to further ensure that technicians can carry out maintenance in a safe environment.
The vessel will be prepared for fossil fuel-free operation and have an optimised hull design and a battery-hybrid setup to help reduce fuel consumption and decrease carbon footprint.
Orsted Taiwan general manager Christy Wang said: “Orsted develops, constructs and operates offshore wind farms around the world and is pioneering and driving offshore wind development in Taiwan.
“Not only are we building the O&M base in the Port of Taichung, we’re also setting an unprecedented industry practice in Taiwan and the region by deploying the bespoke service operation vessel for the Greater Changhua offshore wind farms.
“More importantly, this SOV contract has given the Taiwanese vessel supplier a unique opportunity to tap into state-of-the-art technology in the offshore wind industry.”
Ta Tong Marine Group chairman Lin Hrong-nain said: “As the major and long-standing shipping and marine company since 1965 and based on our long-term collaboration with MOL in Taiwan’s shipping industry, we are excited to participate in this new opportunity in offshore wind and appreciate Orsted’s contribution to invigorating Taiwan’s marine industry.”
Mitsui OSK Lines offshore division general manager Yasuchika Noma added: “We are excited to work with Ta Tong Marine Group and Orsted to build the very first SOV for future operation and maintenance of Orsted’s Greater Changhua wind farms.
“This marks an important step in expanding our presence in Taiwan’s offshore wind industry.”