TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Norwegian shipbuilding company Vard has accepted a contract with a Taiwanese client to build two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs), it was reported on Friday (May 10). 

The CSOVs will boost Taiwan’s capacity to harness energy from offshore wind farms. The vessels will be used to help install wind farms off Taiwan’s coast, with the first expected to be delivered in late 2026, and the second in early 2027, reported Maritime Link. 

The new ships will reportedly be of the Vard 4-39 model, measuring 102.3 meters long and 19.5 meters at their widest point. The ships can house up to 120 crew members at maximum capacity per reports. 

The name of the Taiwanese client was not included in the announcement from Vard. Previously, Vard was contracted by the Ta San Shang Marine Company, to build the TSS Pioneer, a first of its kind service operation vessel (SOV). 

After its construction at Vard’s shipyard in Vietnam, the TSS Pioneer was delivered in 2022, and it is currently commissioned on a 15-year contract with Orsted, working on the Greater Changhua Offshore Windfarm, per Maritime Executive.