GSS Sets Up Joint Venture with Taiwan’s Hwa Chi Construction

Scotland-headquartered GSS Marine Services and Taiwan’s marine construction company Hwa Chi Construction Co. Ltd. have established a joint venture company to jointly support the Taiwanese booming offshore wind industry.

According to the new joint venture, GSS Hwa Chi Offshore Services, the move enables the two companies to provide a full set of marine support and construction services within the offshore wind sector in Taiwan.

GSS, which has offices in Scotland and the Netherlands, said that it had been actively providing offshore wind support services for many years now and that it adapted the offering to the market needs, pointing out the launch of its DP2 vessel Ella F.

Hwa Chi Construction is one of Taiwan’s largest marine construction companies, GSS Hwa Chi Offshore Services stated, adding that the company owns and operates a range of large vessels, including jack-ups and a hopper dredger.

Jamie McGarry, Managing Director at GSS Group, said that the establishment of the joint venture is another step in the strategic growth of the company, with the new joint venture company in Taiwan providing GSS with a springboard into further countries in Asia.

The renewable market and marine construction market within Taiwan is experiencing double digit growth, with renewables being a key strategy point for the Taiwanese government, GSS emphasised.

“We are already receiving significant enquiries for our services from our longstanding clients for works and support in Taiwan,” said Jan Peute, Managing Director at GSS BV. “It is important that we provide these services with strong in-country support and Hwa Chi Construction Co. allows GSS to do that.”

Hank Tsai, Managing Director at Hwa Chi Construction Co, said: “As a leading provider in construction activity it is important to our company that we are able to provide a whole range of services to our customers old and new. We need a strong reliable partner who can deliver the quality of equipment that is needed in our expanding market. This equipment does not exist here at present. GSS and Hwa Chi Construction can now provide a complete first class offering to the market.”