Cadeler Takes Delivery of 11th Vessel: Wind Ace

Key Terms

xxl monopile foundations technical

Very large, single-piece steel foundations—essentially huge cylindrical piles—driven or installed into the seabed to support offshore structures, most commonly large wind turbines; “XXL” denotes extra-large diameter and weight used for higher-capacity turbines or deeper-water sites. Investors care because these foundations drive a big share of project cost, fabrication and installation complexity, supply-chain needs and schedule risk, so their size and availability affect capital outlay, timelines and project feasibility much like the foundation of a skyscraper affects its construction plan.

offshore wind installation vessel technical

A ship specially built or outfitted to carry, lift and install large parts of offshore wind farms—such as turbine foundations, towers, nacelles and blades—at sea. Think of it as a floating construction crane and cargo ship combined, designed to work in rough marine conditions and position heavy components precisely. Investors track these vessels because their availability, capabilities and day rates affect project timelines, costs and the pace of wind-farm deployment, which influence revenue and contract opportunities in the offshore wind supply chain.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cadeler today announces the successful delivery, within budget and on schedule, of Wind Ace, the company's eleventh wind installation vessel and second of three A-class newbuilds. Cadeler’s A-class vessels are industry leading in flexibility and scope, capable of conversion from the installation of XXL foundations to the installation of wind turbine generators within a short period of time.

Wind Ace has been under construction for the past two years at the COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong, China, and has been delivered on schedule, within budget, and with a strong safety record during construction, by reaching more than 3.5 million working hours without any lost time accidents.

Following mobilisation, Wind Ace will prepare for deployment on ScottishPower Renewables' East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm in the UK. Cadeler will provide the transportation and installation of both foundations and wind turbines for the project, further building on the company's experience as a full-scope offshore wind installation partner.

The vessel was officially named earlier this year by her godmother, Lisa Western of ScottishPower Renewables, recognising the close partnership between the two companies and Wind Ace's future role in the delivery of East Anglia TWO.

As the second vessel in Cadeler's A-class series, Wind Ace is purpose-built for the transportation and installation of both XXL monopile foundations and next-generation wind turbine generators. The vessel’s hybrid design provides the flexibility to efficiently perform both foundation and wind turbine installation scopes, supporting the increasing scale and complexity of offshore wind developments.

Preparing for East Anglia TWO

East Anglia TWO is a 960 MW offshore wind farm being developed by ScottishPower Renewables, part of the Iberdrola Group, in the North Sea off the south-east coast of England. Once operational, the wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of almost one million homes. Under firm contracts announced in 2024, Cadeler will provide the transportation and installation of all 64 wind turbine generators and their foundations. Offshore works are scheduled to commence in 2027, with Wind Ace supporting the project alongside one of Cadeler's O-class vessels.

Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, comments: "The delivery of Wind Ace marks another important step in our long-term strategy to build the industry's most capable and versatile fleet. Together with her sister vessel Wind Ally, Wind Ace strengthens our ability to support the next generation of offshore wind projects. As turbines and foundations grow larger and projects become more complex, our clients need full-scope installation partners with the capabilities to deliver safely and reliably. We look forward to seeing her begin work for ScottishPower Renewables, delivering another significant offshore wind farm in UK waters."

With the delivery of Wind Ace, Cadeler operates a fleet of eleven offshore wind installation vessels. The company's third A-class vessel, Wind Apex, is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2027.

About Cadeler:

Cadeler A/S (Cadeler) is a pure-play offshore wind installation partner and a global leader in offshore wind turbine transport and installation. The company owns and operates the industry’s largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels and is expanding its capabilities into full-scope foundation transport and installation, as well as operations & maintenance. With its modern fleet and depth of expertise across onshore and offshore operations, Cadeler supports the safe, efficient and reliable delivery of offshore wind projects worldwide. Cadeler is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: CDLR) and the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: CADLR). For more information, please visit www.cadeler.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260716395421/en/

For further information, please contact:

Cadeler Press Office:
press@cadeler.com

Mikkel Gleerup
CEO, Cadeler
+45 3246 3102
mikkel.gleerup@cadeler.com

Alexander Simmonds
EVP & CLO, Cadeler
+44 7376 174172
alexander.simmonds@cadeler.com

Source: Cadeler