Dutch offshore equipment supplier SMST is going to deliver its modular mission equipment to the first ever Service Operation Vessel (SOV) to operate in Taiwanese waters.
SMST was recently awarded the contract by Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam. Under the contract, SMST will deliver an Access & Cargo Tower with elevator and with a motion compensated gangway and 3D Motion Compensated Crane.
The equipment package will be installed on the new build SOV of Ta San Shang Marine, a joint venture of Japanese ship owner MOL and the Taiwanese Ta Tong Marine. The vessel will be the first SOV to be built according to Taiwanese flag and class. The 84.4 m vessel has a beam of 19.5 m and will accommodate 87 persons in single cabins. Its first assignment is to serve on a 15 year long maintenance support charter with Ørsted in the new Greater Changhua offshore wind farm in the Taiwan Strait, starting in Q1-2022.
The equipment is used to safely transfer people and cargo from the new SOV to the turbines. For SMST it is the first order for the Taiwanese offshore market.
To increase efficiency and safety of the equipment even more, most recent market developments are included. “The gangway will be equipped with assisted landing and there will be a shared operator chair installed on the ship’s bridge to control both the crane and gangway. This will increase overall efficiency of the vessel”, explains Menno de Jong, Sales Manager at SMST, “We are really looking forward putting our proven system in operation on this first Asian SOV.”
SMST will deliver its equipmen in Q3-2021.