On September 10, Nantong Rainbow Offshore & Engineering Equipment Co., Ltd. (ROC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Rainbow Heavy Industries, announced that it had recently signed a contract with the renowned European shipowner FRØY AS for the construction of 10 high-end hybrid offshore service vessels (including options).
On the same day, FRØY AS confirmed on its official website that it had ordered three offshore service vessels from ROC, with long-term charter contracts already finalized for two of them with two major Norwegian aquaculture companies. Based on information from both ROC and FRØY AS regarding the new vessels, the total order comprises three firm vessels plus an option for seven additional ones.
The hybrid-powered high-end service vessels contracted this time integrate key functions including anchor handling, ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) support, crane lifting operations, towing operations, and shark jaw/tow pin operations, making them truly the “all-in-one offshore butler” for deep-sea aquaculture operations.
FRØY AS said that these new vessels are the next generation of aquaculture service vessels and will enhance their ability to cope with the future needs of the aquaculture industry. With high technical standards, energy-saving technology solutions and strong operational capabilities, the new ships help reduce the environmental footprint, increase efficiency and improve working conditions on board.
Deep-sea aquaculture imposes stringent requirements on vessel positioning accuracy, operational stability, green performance, and adaptability to complex sea conditions. In response to these technical challenges, ROC precisely focused on the core operational priorities of the shipowner, continuously optimized the vessel design, and achieved comprehensive improvements in practicality, stability, economy, and environmental friendliness, with multiple key performance indicators benchmarked against international advanced standards.
The project is equipped with one bow thruster and two stern thrusters, complemented by CPP main propulsion and NACA profile rudders, enabling precise maneuverability and station-keeping in complex water currents where aquaculture farms are densely distributed. The passive anti-rolling tanks effectively ensure deck operation stability and crew comfort, while the 20.5-ton bollard pull design is fully capable of high-intensity operations such as anchor handling and towing.
ROC stated that the successful signing of this order not only represents a significant achievement of ROC in deeply cultivating the specialized offshore equipment sector, but also serves as a vivid illustration of high-end offshore equipment industry accelerating its upgrade toward a model of “scenario-based R&D, customized design, high-quality delivery, and full-life-cycle services.” The implementation of this project fully validates ROC’s strong R&D capabilities and innovative vitality in the fields of battery hybrid power and specialized offshore vessel designs, and will further enhance the Company’s brand recognition and market influence in the global high-end offshore vessel market. ROC’s high-end offshore equipment is steadily evolving from “pure construction” toward an internationalized model of “full-life-cycle value creation.”
It is worth noting that the aforementioned order for up to ten high-end hybrid offshore service vessels marks the second shipbuilding contract recently concluded between ROC and FRØY AS. In August, ROC signed a contract with FRØY AS for the construction of 4,500 m³ live fish carriers—comprising a firm order for two vessels and an option for four more—with a total value ranging from approximately RMB 2.8 billion to RMB 3.3 billion; the first two vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2029.