Norwegian Yard Lands Japanese Contract

Worth more than $200m, the newbuild will be of 150m x 28m main dimensions, designed and equipped with particular reference to the needs of Japan’s growing investment in offshore wind energy. The ship will incorporate a hybrid element in the power arrangements.

The hull will be built at VARD’s Tulcea shipyard in Romania, and transferred to Norway for outfitting and completion by one of the Group’s west coast yards, which is to effect delivery during the second quarter of 2026.

The VARD 9-15 design has been prepared to meet the requirements both of laying cable and constructing wind farms throughout Japan’s coastal regions, in both shallow and deep waters. The vessel layout and equipment specification is geared to achieving high productivity on the various projects, with the hull form optimised to suit Japanese conditions.

Accordingly, in addition to the 9,000t carousel capacity and deployment equipment for subsea DC power transmission lines, the vessel will feature a large open deck area and 250t active heave-compensated crane. This renders suitability for multipurpose applications such as ground-based foundation work and floating offshore wind turbine mooring.

The vessel type has been prepared for inter-array, HVAC export and interconnector cable lay as well as cable burial and construction work. She will be equipped with a four-point mooring arrangement for assignments in shallow sea areas, and will carry two ROV(remote-operated vehicle) systems.

The vessel will be powered by five main gensets, supplemented by a battery pack, and will be of DP2 dynamic positioning standard. The combination of flexible, diesel-electric main propulsion, an energy storage system, shore supplying connection, and state-of-the-art management system will realise benefits in efficiency and reduced CO₂, NOx and SOx emissions.

Capable of a maximum transit speed of 13 knots, the vessel will accommodate up to 90 personnel in single-berth cabins.

The announcement of the contract closely followed the December 8 signing of the Green Strategic Partnership by which the Japanese and Norwegian governments will cooperate in the field of decarbonisation technology.

Toyo Construction has set offshore wind power as a growth driver for its business, focusing on technological development and the market in fixed bottom as well as floating wind turbines. Last year, the Tokyo-based company established a joint venture with compatriot shipowning group Mitsui-OSK Lines (MOL).