The world’s biggest owner of wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) just got bigger.
BW Group-backed Cadeler said it has ordered a third A-class newbuilding at Cosco Heavy Industries in China.
The ship, to be called Wind Apex, is costing $400m and will bring the fleet to 11 units since the merger with Scorpio Group’s Eneti in 2023.
Cadeler called the price “very competitive” due to the strong previous collaboration with Cosco.
The owner also mentioned synergies from building several similarly designed jack-ups at the Qidong yard, and the fact that Cadeler negotiated a letter of intent for a third WTIV in 2022.
“With the continuing expansion of the industry’s largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels, Cadeler is ready to meet growing market demand,” the company said.
Cadeler already has two P-class, two M-class and two A-class vessels under construction in China.
The latest ship will come in the first half of 2027 and will fly the Danish flag.
Chief executive Mikkel Gleerup said: “The decision to build a third A-class vessel is based on the strong market demand for assets specialising in installing foundations.”
Talks ongoing
A firm charter contract is in place for the first A-class with Danish energy group Orsted from 2027 to 2030.
Advanced talks are ongoing about the second ship, Cadeler said on Wednesday.
The Wind Apex will have deck space of 5,600 square metres and a payload of more than 17,000 tonnes.
The A-Class newbuilds are designed to transport up to six XXL monopile foundations per round trip.
They can also be swiftly converted from foundation installation to turbine installation.(Copyright)
