Taiwan’s Dong Fang Offshore enters European market with DeepOcean charter deal

Taiwanese owner and operator Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) has sealed a deal to charter out one of its construction support vessels to Norwegian ocean services provider DeepOcean.

The subsidiary of Hung Hua Construction, with a fleet of 16 vessels including those under construction, has fixed the 2014-built Orient Adventurer from early 2026 until the end of 2027, with extension options secured for up to four additional years.

The vessel, picked up as Polar Onyx from Norway’s GC Rieber Shipping in Q1 2022, will be utilised for offshore wind operations and maintenance, installation, as well as inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR), construction, and offshore oil and gas assets decommissioning.

The unit will mainly operate in European offshore energy sectors but is also planned to support operations in other parts of the world, DFO said.

“This high-quality, versatile vessel aligns perfectly with our service offerings, including both renewable energy and conventional sectors. With a proven track record of global operations, Orient Adventurer will be a valuable addition to our operational capabilities across geographies,” said Ottar Mæland, chief operating officer at DeepOcean.

The deal, which will see DFO set up a branch office in Norway this year, marks the company’s entry into the European market and the vessel’s return to the DeepOcean fleet after initially joining in early 2018.

“This commitment is the first time a Taiwanese offshore energy contractor has deployed vessels into the European market, and not only symbolizes a breakthrough in our vessel management and technical capabilities, but also proves that Taiwanese companies can secure a place in the most challenging global market,” added Chen Polin, chief executive at DFO.