Damen wins Asian CSOV contract

Damen Shipyards has signed a deal with joint venture company, Ta San Shang Marine Co Ltd (TSSM), to build a construction service operation vessel (CSOV) that will support offshore wind development in Taiwan.

TSSM, a joint venture between Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (MOL) and Ta Tong Marine Co. Ltd of Taiwan, took delivery of its first SOV, TSS Pioneer, in 2022. The company will commission the new CSOV in late 2025.

The vessel will be built at the shipbuilder’s Vietnam yard which has a sound track record for building large and complex vessels, including SOVs. The 90m-long ship, with accommodation for 120 personnel, will support both the construction and operation of wind farms off the Taiwanese coast.

A motion-compensated gangway will ensure safe transfers to and from turbines and substations, and a diesel-battery hybrid power system will be ready for the use of green methanol as fuel in the future.  

Masayuki Sugiyama, MOL Executive Officer responsible for the Wind Power Project Unit, said, “The addition of this new SOV to the TSS Pioneer will consolidate TSSM’s position as a leading SOV player in Taiwan. We also intend to use this project as a stepping-stone for MOL’s business development in the Asian region, including Japan.”

TSSM chairman, Hrong Nain Lin, commented: “With our experience in operating Asia’s first dedicated offshore wind SOV, we’re now prepared to offer more for the green energy industry. This new Damen SOV will be a valuable new force to support Taiwan offshore wind developments and other future projects in the Asia Pacific region. As always, we will continue to provide safe working environments and a comfortable home at sea for technicians and marine crew.”

Damen Shipyards CEO, Arnout Damen, added: “We are very honoured to welcome TSSM into the Damen family. We are also very happy that after reviewing the options, TSSM has opted for the Damen CSOV 9020 design. We are confident that this new vessel will make a significant contribution to the development of the Taiwanese offshore wind sector and beyond. We look forward to a very fruitful and long relationship with TSSM.”