Acquisition - the Polar Onyx from GC Rieber Shipping.
Dong Fang Offshore Co., Ltd. (DFO), a subsidiary of Hung Hua Construction Co., Ltd. today announces the purchase of the Construction and Flex Lay vessel “Polar Onyx”, commences the conversion process into a cable laying vessel, and continues the rapid expansion across the value chain of the offshore wind industry in APAC.
The purchase demonstrates commitment by DFO, Hung Hua and the Taiwanese offshore contracting community to deliver international standard services and develop a regional marine champion in offshore wind construction and maintenance activities. The vessel is the first flexible lay vessel owned by a Taiwanese owner, and will be the first vessel of its kind to fly the Taiwanese flag once reflagging is completed in the first half of 2022.
The vessel is currently in Europe, will arrive in Taiwan in the first half of 2022, and is already booked by her first project supporting cable installation and burial works for a leading offshore wind contractor. DFO has started engineering for the conversion to a high-specification, high-workability cable laying vessel suitable for the challenging conditions faced in the region. She will be converted in Taiwan, with an estimated completion at the end of 2023.
The Norwegian-built vessel is 130 meters long, 25 meters wide and is fitted with a DP3 positioning system and a 250 MT heave compensated crane. She is fitted with diesel-electric propulsion, accommodation for 130 persons, over 1,700 m2 of deck space and two fully integrated work class ROVs, making her highly suitable for offshore wind construction activities in Taiwan.