Marco Polo Marine and Salt Ship Design are collaborating on the construction of a “next-generation” commissioning service operation vessel for the offshore wind, oil and gas markets.
Norwegian ship designer Salt has been chosen by Singapore-based Marco Polo Marine to design the CSOV Plus (artist’s impression pictured).
Construction will begin at Marco Polo Marine’s shipyard in Batam, Indonesia, in the second quarter of 2026, with delivery scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.
Unlike standard CSOVs and construction support vessels with retrofitted walk-to-work systems, Marco Polo Marine said the new vessel is the first purpose-built CSOV designed for dual-sector operations in the offshore wind, oil and gas sectors.
The vessel will support the complete lifecycle of offshore wind projects, from construction and cable installation to repairs, maintenance, and technician transfer for commissioning and ongoing operations.
Marco Polo Marine said the ship is designed to provide exceptional operational flexibility, featuring a 100-tonne active heave compensated (AHC) crane, expansive clear deck space, and a flexible 3D-compensated cargo lifting system for loads from 3 to 10 tonnes.
Chief executive Sean Lee said: “We are thrilled to partner with the innovative team at Salt Ship Design to bring our biggest advancements in CSOV – CSOV Plus – to life.
“This vessel represents our direct response to market demands for more versatile and efficient offshore assets.
“By integrating advanced wind farm support with other proven oil and gas-related capabilities, we’re delivering unprecedented versatility that serves clients across multiple sectors whilst maximising operational uptime and providing significant competitive advantages.
“We’re confident this innovative design will exceed our customers’ expectations and set new industry standards for crew comfort and safety.”
Salt chairman Egil Sandvik said: “We are honoured that Marco Polo Marine has entrusted Salt Ship Design with the development for their CSOV Plus concept.”
The CSOV Plus has a battery hybrid power system that reduces fuel consumption and emissions.