Cadeler received its latest jack-up wind turbine installation vessel, Wind Pace, on 26 March. Its sister vessel, the Wind Peak, was the first of Cadeler’s two newbuild P-class vessels and was delivered in August 2024.
Cadeler is currently expanding its fleet. The Wind Pace is the seventh vessel in the company’s growing portfolio of wind turbine installation vessels.
Wind Pace was officially named at a naming ceremony on the 12th of March at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (COSCO) shipyard in Qidong, China, where it was built.
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Both P-class vessels at work
After its delivery, Wind Pace will be deployed in the US under a contract from Q2 2025 to Q1 2026, supporting a project at an offshore wind farm in the region, Cadeler’s second project in American waters.
The Wind Peak has just embarked on its first installation project, the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, off the Yorkshire coast of the United Kingdom. This is one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world.
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Larger turbines, challenging conditions
Wind Pace is specifically designed to handle the increasing size, scope, and complexity of next-generation wind farm projects as well as the most challenging offshore conditions.
The P-class vessels are capable of transporting and installing up to seven complete 15-MW turbine sets per load or five 20+-MW turbines, reducing the number of roundtrips required and significantly accelerating installation time while improving energy and cost efficiency.
An advanced hybrid power system and cyber-secure operational infrastructure ensure high efficiency and enhanced safety. The vessel design is prepared for future dual-fuel green-methanol operations and an electrical system that captures and stores excess energy for re-use.
‘With advanced crane capabilities, enhanced transit effectiveness, and reduced energy intensity, these vessels unlock new levels of efficiency for our customers,’ says Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler. ‘Wind Peak, the first P-class vessel, has already fully demonstrated this since its delivery last year. Likewise, we expect Wind Pace to play a key role in supporting our clients in the necessary expansion of offshore wind.’
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Largest vessels in the fleet
Being the largest vessels in the Cadeler fleet today, both Wind Peak and Wind Pace boast a deck space of 5600 m2, a payload capacity of over 17,600 tonnes, and a main crane capable of lifting 2600 tonnes at 47 metres. Additionally, each vessel can accommodate up to 130 crew members and installation technicians.
The P-class vessels are the result of close cooperation between Cadeler and its key partners on these newbuildings, including COSCO, GustoMSC, NOV, Kongsberg, Huisman, and MAN Energy.
Picture by Cadeler.
