Norwegian shipbuilder VARD has launched the hull of a new Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel being built for Taiwanese offshore company Dong Fang Offshore.
The vessel, designated NB 988, was launched on August 21 at VARD’s shipyard in Brăila, Romania.
Following the launch, the hull will be transferred to Vard Søviknes in Norway, where the vessel will undergo final outfitting, commissioning and preparation for delivery.
Delivery to Dong Fang Offshore is currently scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.
The new vessel is based on the VARD 3 39 design and has a length of 121.3 metres.
It is being developed as a highly versatile offshore platform capable of supporting a wide range of operations, including subsea construction, offshore wind maintenance, cable installation and cable repair.
The vessel will be able to accommodate up to 130 people, making it suitable for complex offshore campaigns requiring large technical teams and specialist personnel.
Construction of the vessel began in 2025. The first steel was cut in September 2025, followed by the keel-laying ceremony in November.
VARD described the launch as an important milestone in the project, highlighting cooperation between its teams in Romania and Norway and the company’s integrated shipbuilding model.
The vessel will be equipped with a 250-tonne active heave compensated offshore crane, allowing heavy equipment and subsea systems to be handled more safely in challenging sea conditions.
It will also feature two deck and boat cranes and a large working deck of approximately 1,200 square metres.
The deck has been designed to support cable repair and cable-laying operations, giving the vessel considerable flexibility for offshore energy and subsea infrastructure projects.
The new OSCV will also include ROV hangars prepared for remotely operated vehicles on both sides of the vessel.
Additional provisions have been included for the future installation of a motion-compensated gangway, below-deck cable carousel, large trenching system and helideck.
These features will allow the vessel to be adapted for a wide variety of offshore operations throughout its service life.
Brunvoll has been selected to supply the vessel’s propulsion and manoeuvring systems, which will form an important part of the ship’s operational capability during demanding offshore work.
The project reflects continued investment in specialised offshore vessels as activity grows across subsea construction, offshore wind and subsea cable infrastructure.
For Dong Fang Offshore, the new vessel will significantly expand the company’s ability to support complex offshore projects in Taiwan and other regional markets once it enters service in 2027.
