Cadeler has announced the successful, on-schedule, and within-budget delivery of its eleventh wind installation vessel, Wind Ace. This vessel represents the second of three planned A-class newbuilds designed to provide high flexibility for the offshore wind sector. Constructed over two years at the COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong, China, the vessel achieved a significant safety milestone of over 3.5 million working hours without lost time accidents. This delivery strengthens Cadeler's position as a full-scope installation partner for large-scale, complex offshore wind developments.
Wind Ace A-Class Vessel Specifications
The Wind Ace is a purpose-built A-class vessel engineered to handle the increasing scale of modern offshore wind infrastructure. Its hybrid design allows for rapid conversion between the installation of XXL foundations and the installation of next-generation wind turbine generators. This versatility is critical as project components grow in size and complexity. Following its mobilization, the vessel is slated for deployment at the East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm in the United Kingdom. This project, a 960 MW development by ScottishPower Renewables, requires the transportation and installation of 64 wind turbine generators and their associated foundations. Cadeler will utilize Wind Ace alongside an existing O-class vessel to execute these offshore works, which are currently scheduled to commence in 2027. The company's third A-class vessel, Wind Apex, is expected to arrive in the first half of 2027.
East Anglia TWO Project Scope
The deployment of Wind Ace is tied to firm contracts secured by Cadeler for the East Anglia TWO project located in the North Sea. Developed by ScottishPower Renewables, a subsidiary of the Iberdrola Group, the wind farm is designed to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately one million homes. The scope of Cadeler's involvement includes the full-scale transportation and installation of all 64 turbine generators and foundations. This partnership underscores a shift toward full-scope installation services, where a single partner manages both foundation and turbine components. By integrating these capabilities, Cadeler aims to address the logistical demands of high-capacity offshore wind farms. The successful delivery of Wind Ace, completed without safety incidents during its construction phase, provides the technical foundation required to meet the 2027 commencement timeline for this major UK renewable energy asset.
Key Takeaways
- Cadeler delivered Wind Ace, its eleventh vessel and second of three A-class newbuilds, from the COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard.
- The vessel will support the 960 MW East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm, installing 64 wind turbine generators and foundations.
- Construction of Wind Ace reached over 3.5 million working hours without any lost time accidents.
EnergyInsyte's Take
In our view, the delivery of Wind Ace signals a strategic pivot toward specialized, high-capacity fleet management. By investing in A-class vessels capable of switching between XXL foundations and turbine installation, Cadeler is directly addressing the industry's primary bottleneck: the mismatch between aging vessel fleets and the massive scale of next-generation hardware. This "full-scope" approach reduces the coordination risks inherent in managing separate foundation and turbine contractors. For developers like ScottishPower Renewables, this provides a more integrated execution model. As the industry moves toward 2027, the ability to deploy versatile, dual-purpose assets will likely become a prerequisite for securing large-scale North Sea contracts.
Source: Businesswire
