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.

The vessel will be using the Port of Taichung as its base port to serve Ørsted’s offshore wind farms, located some 35 to 50 kilometres off the coast of Changhua County.

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