Vard launched a new energy construction vessel (ECV) at its Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam on Tuesday, October 27.
The vessel, NB985, is under construction for Wind Energy Construction. The founders and owners of Norwind Offshore hold part ownership in the Norwegian company. Vard said delivery remains scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.
The ECV combines a walk-to-work gangway, electrically controlled and compensated for motion in three dimensions, with a 150-tonne subsea crane compensated for heave.
When it announced the order in August 2024, VARD described NB985 as a construction vessel that would be its first to have a permanently installed motion-compensated gangway. The gangway specification includes integrated 3D-compensated crane functionality.
Vard Electro will supply power systems incorporating one MWh of energy storage, plus shore connection, bridge, communication and control systems. Vard Interiors will handle the interiors and HVAC R system.
The contract also provided an option for one further vessel. NB985 is the sixth vessel the owners of Norwind Offshore have contracted with Vard since October 2021. The previous five were commissioning service operation vessels (CSOV).
Construction began with a steel-cutting ceremony at Vard Vung Tau on October 6, 2025.
The ECV will have a length of 111.5 metres, a beam of 22.4 metres and accommodation for up to 120 people.
