Singapore-based shipbuilder Marco Polo Marine announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Marco Polo Shipyard Pte Ltd (“Marco Polo Shipyard”), has been awarded a contract from the National Academy of Marine Research (“NAMR”), a research institute under the Ocean Affairs Council of Taiwan, to design and construct a 4,000 gross tonne (GT) oceanographic research vessel (“ORV”), marking the largest contract win in the division’s history.
The contract, valued at NT$4.678 billion (approximately S$198 million), represents a significant milestone for Marco Polo Marine’s shipbuilding operations and underscores the Group’s growing capabilities in specialised vessel construction.
The ORV will be built over 1,460 days (approximately four years) at the Group’s shipyard in Batam, Indonesia, with engineering and commercial support provided from Singapore. Designed by the renowned Norwegian firm Skipteknisk AS, a proven designer for similar research vessels, the ORV will be built to dual class CR and ABS standards.
This state-of-the-art vessel will feature a Dynamic Positioning 2 (DP2) system and diesel-electric propulsion with twin azimuth thrusters, along with bow and retractable thrusters. She will also be equipped with a Battery Energy Storage System and Waste Heat Recovery System achieving green and sustainability features. It is also designed for low-noise operations or UWN(R), minimising acoustic output while the vessel is performing sensitive research operations, with an endurance of over 30 days.
The vessel will be equipped with advanced wet and dry laboratories, as well as multibeam sonar systems, Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) sensors, as well as Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) A-frames to support a wide range of scientific missions.
Scientific and research equipment for the ORV will be procured from established European Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) according to NAMR’s specifications, with integration supported by specialist consultants.
The project will be fully self-financed through the Group’s internal cashflows and does not require any project-specific debt.
This contract award reinforces Marco Polo Marine’s strategic expansion into high-value, specialised vessel construction that supports marine science, research, and the blue economy, as well as complements the Group’s existing growth in offshore wind vessel segments, including crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs).