TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — CSBC Corp. has teamed up with National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology on maritime research projects, student internships in related industries, and talent development.

CSBC Chair Chen Jeng-horng (陳政宏) and National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology President Wu Chung-hsin (吳忠信) signed a cooperation agreement on Wednesday. The partnership, which runs through 2031, aims to strengthen maritime talent training in southern Taiwan, per CNA.

Demand for engineering talent is expected to rise as government policies promote offshore wind power and smart ships. The Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center said the Ministry of Economic Affairs plans for renewable energy to account for at least 45% of total power generation by 2050. Offshore wind power will play a critical role and requires substantial maritime engineering and ship R&D expertise.

Building an offshore wind farm requires up to 50 types of specialized offshore vessels, according to the center. The ships are mainly used to survey seabed geology, assist with turbine installation, and transport equipment.

The center is also developing unmanned ships for wind farm monitoring. It aims to build a vessel that combines big data analytics and smart navigation technology to enhance wind farm management.

In 2023, CSBC completed Green Jade, Taiwan’s first locally built floating crane ship for offshore facility construction. The ship can support underwater foundation work and turbine assembly.

The Ministry of Education commissioned CSBC to build the Wind Rider, a maritime training ship costing NT$1.65 billion (US$52 million). Equipped with a simulated bridge, navigation systems, and automatic controls, the vessel carried 20 crew members and 40 students on its maiden five-day training voyage to Tokyo in February 2025.