Cadeler A/S has placed an order to build its third state-of-the-art A-class wind farm installation vessel, according to the company's release. This will be the eleventh vessel in Cadeler’s fleet.
The global demand for increasingly technologically advanced offshore wind farm installation vessels is driven by the expansion of the offshore wind industry generally as well as the growth in size and capacity of offshore wind turbines. Responding to that demand, Cadeler has now entered into a binding contract for the manufacture and delivery of its third A-class vessel – Wind Apex. The hybrid design of Cadeler’s A-class vessels offers Cadeler’s clients unique flexibility, as each A-class vessel can convert from being a foundation installation unit to a wind turbine generator installation vessel within a short period of time.
Cadeler already has two P-class, two M-class and two A-class vessels under construction. This third A-class vessel set to be delivered in H1 2027, will be built by COSCO Heavy Industries in Qidong, China, to design standards that will permit it to sail under the Danish flag.
Cadeler has been able to achieve a very competitive price for this third A-Class vessel due to the strong collaboration that Cadeler has built with COSCO Heavy Industries, synergies from building several similarly designed jack-ups, and the fact that Cadeler negotiated an LoI for this vessel in 2022. The contract price for the delivery of this third A-class is approximately USD 400 million.
The third A-class vessel will be built on similar specifications to the first two A-class vessel, with a deck space of 5,600m2, a payload of more than 17,000 tons and a main crane capacity to be disclosed at a later date. Both the P- and A-class vessels are unrivalled within the industry. The A-class vessels will be able to transport and install seven complete 15MW turbine sets per load or six sets of 2XL monopile foundations, cutting down the number of transits needed for each project. In line with the P-class vessels, the A-class will cater for some of the largest dimensions of wind turbine components in the offshore wind industry.
The P- and A-class vessels are built in close cooperation with Cadeler’s strategic partners, which include GustoMSC NOV, Kongsberg, Huismann and MAN Energy.
Cadeler is a key supplier of offshore wind installation, operations, and maintenance services. Cadeler is a pure play company, solely operating in the offshore wind industry with an uncompromising focus on safety and the environment.