Taiwan-based Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) has taken delivery of its first newbuild service operation vessel (SOV), Orient Inspirer, from Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam, two months ahead of the originally scheduled delivery date.
The vessel, Vard’s NB 987, is based on the VARD 4 39 design and is purpose-built for long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) of offshore wind farms in Taiwan. DFO said the vessel is expected to arrive in Taiwan by the end of September and will be registered under the Taiwanese flag.
Orient Inspirer is scheduled to begin a twelve-year offshore wind O&M service on 1 November. DFO previously said the vessel had been chartered by Vestas to serve the Changfang-Xidao and Zhong Neng offshore wind farms. The 600 MW Changfang-Xidao and the 300 MW Zhong Neng both use Vestas V174-9.5 MW turbines.
DFO said the early delivery provides additional time for crew familiarisation, operational training and coordination with the customer before the long-term service begins. The company added that all other vessels currently under construction as part of its shipbuilding programme already have operating contracts in place.
The company ordered two vessels of the VARD 4 39 design in May 2024, and ordered a third SOV in May 2025. The third SOV order was a declaration of an option in the contract DFO signed with Vard in April 2025 for an offshore subsea construction vessel (OSCV).
The company’s board has now also approved the construction of another vessel at Vard, with a construction cost of between USD 76 million and USD 86 million. The vessel will be similar in type to an SOV but will use a different design from DFO’s first three SOVs to meet the requirements of potential international projects, DFO said.