Recently, Singapore-listed shipbuilding company Marco Polo Marine announced that it has secured a contract from the Ocean Research Institute under the Ocean Affairs Council of China’s Taiwan region to build one 4000 gross tonnage Ocean Research Vessel (ORV), with a contract value of TWD 4.678 billion (approximately RMB 1.060 billion).
This order was undertaken by Marco Polo Shipyard, representing the largest construction contract the shipyard has secured since its establishment in 1991. It marks a significant milestone for Marco Polo Marine’s shipbuilding business and reflects the group’s growing capabilities in the construction of specialized vessels. The new vessel will be built by Marco Polo’s shipyard located in Batam, Indonesia, with an estimated construction period of about four years. The vessel will be classed by Taiwan’s CR Classification Society and the American Bureau of Shipping.
This advanced research vessel, designed by Norway’s Skipsteknisk company, utilizes a diesel-electric propulsion system paired with dual azimuth thrusters, and is equipped with a bow thruster and a retractable thruster. It also incorporates a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and a waste heat recovery system to achieve green and sustainable development characteristics. The vessel is specifically designed for low-noise operations, minimizing acoustic output during sensitive scientific missions, and has an endurance of over 30 days.
The vessel will be equipped with advanced dry and wet laboratories, a multi-beam sonar system, a Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) sensor, and a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) A-frame to support a wide range of scientific tasks. The scientific research equipment required for the research vessel will be procured from well-known European Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) according to the technical specifications of the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute, with integration support provided by a team of professional consultants.
Marco Polo stated that winning this contract further strengthens the group’s strategic positioning in the high-value-added specialized vessel construction sector, supports the development of marine science, scientific research, and the blue economy, and complements the group’s growth in the offshore wind service vessel segment, including Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) and Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs).
It is understood that Marco Polo, listed on the Singapore Exchange in 2007, is a well-known regional integrated marine logistics company primarily engaged in shipping and shipbuilding businesses. The group’s shipping business includes chartering Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs), tugboats, and barges for services in regional waters, including the Gulf of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China’s Taiwan. Its shipyard business involves shipbuilding, as well as maintenance, repair, outfitting, and conversion services, conducted through its shipyard in Batam, Indonesia.
