Asia’s First Newbuild SOV Delivered, All Set to Start Ops at Taiwanese Offshore Wind Farms

The Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam has delivered the first Taiwan-flagged service operation vessel (SOV), TSS Pioneer, to Ta San Shang Marine, a joint company owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Ta Tong Marine.

The vessel will now be deployed on Ørsted’s 900 MW Greater Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farms in Taiwan under a 15-year charter the developer signed with Ta San Shang Marine in 2020.

Vard delivered the SOV on 8 March, less than two months after the vessel completed sea trials offshore Vietnam.

The 84.4-metre TSS Pioneer has a beam of 19.5 metres and can accommodate 87 people in single cabins. It features a motion-compensated gangway, dynamic positioning system, and a 3D motion-compensated crane.

Propulsion is hybrid with a diesel-electric solution, which allows for reductions in fuel consumption, maintenance and emissions, as well as improved responsiveness, Vard said in 2020 after the Norway-based company signed the shipbuilding contract.