Taiwan's Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) has commissioned the Norwegian VARD, a subsidiary shipbuilding company by the Italian Fincantieri, the design and construction of a Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel (OSCV). The contract has a value of €113.5 million and also provides for an option for the construction of additional ships.

The new vessel for offshore underwater operations, based on the VARD 3 39 project, will be a highly versatile platform and equipped to support underwater operations, maintenance and cable laying in the offshore wind and telecommunications. Thanks to an optimized hull shape and a advanced propulsion system, will offer excellent capabilities manoeuvrability at sea, stability and a high level of precision in maintaining position.

The ship will have a length of 121.3 meters and a width of of 23 meters, with a maximum speed of 14 knots. Can accommodate up to 130 people in 90 cabins and will be designed to ensure high standards of comfort, functionality and environmental sustainability. It will be equipped with a crane active offshore wave compensation (Active Heave-Compensation) of 250 tons, a working bridge of 1,200 square meters prepared for cable repairs and hangar for remotely piloted underwater vehicles (ROV, Remotely Operated Vehicle) on both sides. In addition, the unit will be prepared for the installation of a gangway system compensated with respect to the marine movement, of a carousel (large rotating platform that holds the cable during installation) below deck, a large trencher and a helicopter flight.

The hull of the unit will be built at the Vard shipyard in Braila, Romania, while the and delivery will take place at Vard Søviknes, in Norway. The delivery of the ship is scheduled for the beginning of second quarter of 2027.

Founded in 2019, DFO provides construction services, operations and maintenance in the offshore wind sector, of energy and telecommunications. This is the third units that VARD builds for DFO, after the two Commissioning Service Operations Vessels ordered in May 2024.