TRIESTE – Vard, the Norwegian company of the Fincantieri Group specializing in the design and construction of specialized vessels, has signed a new contract with Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), one of the leading offshore support providers in the Asia-Pacific region. The agreement, worth €113.5 million, covers the construction of a vessel for offshore subsea operations and includes an option for additional units. The new vessel will be based on the VARD 3 39 design, a versatile and technologically advanced platform conceived for subsea intervention, maintenance, and cable laying in the offshore wind and telecommunications sectors. Its optimized hull and innovative propulsion system will ensure excellent maneuverability, sea-keeping stability, and dynamic positioning accuracy. Measuring 121.3 meters in length and 23 meters in beam, the ship will accommodate up to 130 people in 90 cabins, offering high standards of comfort and environmental sustainability.

Key onboard features include a 250-ton offshore Active Heave-Compensation crane, a 1,200-square-meter work deck for cable operations, hangars for remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), and provisions for a motion-compensated gangway system, an underdeck carousel, a large trencher, and a helicopter deck. The hull will be built at the Vard shipyard in Braila, Romania, while final outfitting and delivery are scheduled at Vard Søviknes in Norway, by early Q2 2027.

This contract reinforces the strong partnership between Vard and DFO, which began in 2024 with the construction of two Commissioning Service Operations Vessels.