Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) has been awarded a charter for a new Taiwan-flagged Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) for the 500MW Fengmiao 1 project in Taiwan. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027.
The award follows successful collaborations between CIP and DFO on the Changfang & Xidao and Zhongneng projects. DFO noted that the new vessel will be permanently based in the Asia-Pacific region, addressing the global shortage of capable vessels.
Once delivered, the CSOV will provide job opportunities for highly-skilled Taiwanese crew and professionals, ensuring high-quality operations. DFO stated that the vessel will support foundation installation, cable installation, turbine operations, and balance of plant operations and maintenance. “The commitment ensures that Fengmiao I project will have a fit-for-purpose vessel to support operations, de-risking the project delivery,” DFO added.
Polin Chen, CEO of DFO, emphasized the significance of the partnership with CIP, saying, “CIP was the inaugural charterer of the first Taiwanese construction support vessel, the Orient Constructor, and this new award of CSOV charter demonstrates the long-term investment and support that CIP has made into suppliers like DFO to develop us from a small local vessel supplier into an organization that can deliver large scopes to international standards.”
Marina Hsu, CIP regional managing director, highlighted the strategic importance of the Fengmiao I project, stating, “We have always understood the pivotal role Fengmiao I project is playing for laying a cornerstone for the entire Round 3 development in Taiwan. We've been shouldering the weight of establishing a well-functioning, competitive local supply chain since Round 2, and we will keep doing so in Round 3, as it is extremely essential for Taiwan to achieve sustainable build-out and operation of offshore wind projects, which ensures the competitiveness of the country's economy.”
