Damen Shipyards Group has delivered the first of two Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOV) 9020 to Ta San Shang Marine Co., Ltd. (TSSM) at Ha Long in Vietnam.
The company, a joint venture between Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd of Japan and Ta Tong Marine Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, will deploy the vessel in support of offshore wind farm operations in Taiwan, covering both the construction phase and ongoing operational activities.
The delivery follows the successful completion of sea trials conducted in Ha Long Bay. On 29 April, a formal naming ceremony was held for the vessel, attended by senior management representatives from both joint venture partners as well as from Damen.
During the ceremony, the vessel was officially named TSS Cruiser by Mrs Patricia Liao, President of the Welcome to Taipei International Club (WTIC). Following the naming, guests were invited to tour the vessel before participating in a cruise of the bay.
The 90-metre Damen CSOV 9020 is designed to accommodate up to 120 offshore personnel, who can transfer safely via a motion-compensated gangway. The vessel is equipped with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and has been prepared for a future conversion to methanol propulsion.
TSS Cruiser was constructed in Ha Long at one of Damen’s Vietnamese partner shipyards, which operates to the standards required for offshore support vessels of this type.
Following handover, the vessel departed Vietnam on 6 May bound for Taiwan, where it will commence its first assignment at the Hai Long Offshore Wind Farm, which will be equipped with Siemens Gamesa turbines. The second vessel in the series is scheduled for delivery early next year.
