Dong Fang Offshore has taken delivery of its first newbuild service operation vessel, the Orient Inspirer, and has approved an order for a second ship from the same builder, Norwegian yard Vard, MarineLink reported on 21 September 2026.
Vard delivered the Orient Inspirer two months ahead of the planned handover, the report said, making it the first newbuild to enter Dong Fang Offshore's fleet. The early delivery was highlighted by both companies in the notice published on MarineLink.
The vessel is described in the report as a service operation vessel, often abbreviated SOV. Its arrival represents Dong Fang Offshore's first outright newbuild delivery.
The company has also approved an order for another vessel to be built by Vard, with the contract value reported as up to $86 million. MarineLink’s item noted the approval and the price ceiling but did not publish further technical details.
The twin developments, early handover of the Orient Inspirer and approval of a further Vard newbuild, underscore a continuing commercial relationship between Dong Fang Offshore and the Norwegian shipbuilder, according to the published report.
Delivery ahead of schedule
According to MarineLink, Vard completed and delivered the Orient Inspirer two months earlier than the planned delivery date. The acceleration of the delivery schedule was set out in the report without additional comment on causes or potential schedule adjustments elsewhere.
Early delivery of a first newbuild is a notable logistical outcome for an owner taking a vessel into service, and for the yard charged with completion and commissioning. MarineLink’s coverage confined itself to the fact of the earlier handover.
Order for a second Vard newbuild
The report also records that Dong Fang Offshore has approved an order for another vessel from Vard, described in the item as having a monetary value of up to $86 million. The announcement did not detail delivery timing or further contractual terms in the published item.
MarineLink’s account presents these developments as a paired announcement: receipt of the Orient Inspirer and the decision to proceed with an additional vessel from the same Norwegian builder. No further corporate commentary was included in the report.
The two items together, delivery and order approval, complete the facts available from the MarineLink notice: Vard as builder, the Orient Inspirer as the first newbuild delivered, the delivery occurring two months early, and an approved follow-on vessel valued at up to $86 million.
Further specifics, such as the second vessel’s configuration, the agreed delivery slot or detailed commercial arrangements, were not reported in the summary provided by MarineLink on 21 September 2026. The Maritime Gazette will follow any additional disclosures from the companies involved as they become available.