Damen Shipyards has signed a contract with Ta San Shang Marine (TSSM), a joint venture between Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) of Japan and Ta Tong Marine of Taiwan, for the delivery of a Damen CSOV (Construction Service Operation Vessel) 9020.
This will be TSSM’s second SOV in its fleet. The first, the TSS Pioneer, was delivered in 2022 and this new ship will be operational in late 2025. The build will take place in Vietnam, where Damen has a large presence and track record for building large and complex vessels including SOVs, which are already under construction.
The new 90m vessel will support offshore wind farms off the coast of Taiwan by providing accommodation for up to 120 personnel and storage for supplies. These will be for the various contractors supporting the wind farms both when under construction and when operational. A motion compensated gangway ensures rapid and safe transfers to and from the turbines and substations, and the vessels are fitted with diesel-battery hybrid power generation systems and are delivered fully prepared for future use of green methanol fuel.
Masayuki Sugiyama, MOL Executive Officer 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 steppingstone for MOL’s business development in the Asian region, including Japan.”
TSSM Chairman Hrong Nain Lin added, “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.”
Arnout Damen, CEO Damen Shipyards, said: “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.”
