International subsea specialist Sulmara, is seeing a rise in demand for its uncrewed surface vessel (USV) operations and seabed mapping services, driven by the ongoing expansion of Taiwan’s offshore wind market.
This surge also reflects a clear trend among developers, a shift toward earlier engagement in site investigation and survey planning, to support more efficient, long-term project delivery.
This sustained activity comes as confidence builds in Taiwan’s offshore wind sector. All five projects from the government’s Round 3.2 auctions, totaling 2.7 GW of capacity, have now signed contracts, providing increased stability for the supply chain.
Sulmara is seeing this shift reflected in rising interest for long-term survey and seabed data solutions. James Hope, Regional Director Eastern Hemisphere at Sulmara, comments: “As the offshore wind sector in Taiwan gains momentum and certainty, we are seeing a clear shift toward long-term planning and early engagement, particularly around innovative services like USV operations and seabed mapping. This presents a real opportunity for Sulmara to support clients through every phase of project development. Clients are also increasingly looking to secure multi-year agreements to guarantee access to high-quality data outputs at key stages of development.”
Since setting up the local office in Taiwan in 2021, Sulmara has built momentum year on-year by undertaking numerous repeat contracts with major wind farm developers and installation contractors in-country to provide a range of innovative and bespoke services. One long-term partnership of note in Taiwan is with Seaway7, for who amongst other projects, Sulmara has successfully completed its second consecutive year supporting the construction of a fixed-bottom offshore wind farm as part of the Zhong Neng Project - highlighting its growing presence in the region’s offshore wind sector.
Hope continues, “Our work with Seaway7 at Zhong Neng reflects not only the trust placed in Sulmara, but also the capability and commitment of our team in Taiwan as we enter our fifth year of operations in the region.”
Reflecting on Sulmara’s role in the project, Antonina Timofeeva of Seaway7 said, “Sulmara’s performance on the Zhong Neng project was reliable, and the in-country team successfully supported delivery of survey equipment to the project and provided operational assistance to overcome any challenges.”
Following the success of the Zhong Neng contract, Sulmara is currently supporting Ørsted on the Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms, delivering geoscience construction monitoring (GCM) services and seabed mapping to support offshore construction which began in February 2025.
Sulmara continues to invest in the upskilling of local staff, with Taiwanese surveyors and project team members gaining hands-on experience across a number of high-profile projects. One notable example is Yu-Fan Tao, a former intern who returned to join the Zhong Neng project team and is now playing a key role in Sulmara’s delivery for the Greater Changhua wind farms.
Hope expands, “A key area of focus for Sulmara is on developing local talent by combining international experience with in-country knowledge. Empowering our Taiwanese staff to take on increasingly complex roles is central to how we grow the business and contribute to the sector’s long-term success.”
Beyond Taiwan, Sulmara is also expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, having recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korean company Allforland to jointly deliver mapping solutions to help support the country’s offshore wind ambitions.
