Cadeler takes delivery of first A-class vessel

Wind Ally becomes the ninth vessel in Cadeler’s growing fleet of wind installation vessels (WIV). After mobilisation, the vessel will head directly into operations installing foundations at Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 offshore windfarm in the North Sea.

For the first time, Cadeler will take on the entire transport and installation (T&I) scope for offshore monopile foundations, a step that positions the company as a full-service provider in the foundations market.

Cadeler chief executive Mikkel Gleerup said, “With Wind Ally delivered ahead of schedule and immediately deployed to this landmark project, we are taking a decisive step into a new chapter for Cadeler.

“Over the past year, we have built the needed capabilities to take on the full foundations scope. Establishing an entirely new department of dedicated specialists and investing in the design of vessels tailored for XXL monopiles has been a huge effort across the company. Hornsea 3 will be the first project where we bring all of this preparation together.”

The new vessel has been under construction for two years at Cosco shipyard in Qidong, China. The design is a result of close cooperation between Cadeler and its key partners, including COSCO, GustoMSC, NOV, Kongsberg, Huisman, and MAN Energy.

The A-class design is tailored to tackle the increasing size and complexity of offshore wind turbines and foundations. With a deck space of 5,600 m², payload exceeding 18,000 tonnes and a main crane capable of lifting above 3,300 tonnes at 39 m, Wind Ally can transport and install up to six sets of XXL monopile foundations per load. This efficiency reduces the number and total duration of transits, accelerates efficiency during installation.

The hybrid design of the A-class vessels allows swift conversion between foundation installation and wind turbine generator installation. Wind Ally is the first of three A-class newbuilds ordered by Cadeler. A sister vessel, Wind Ace, is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2026, followed by Wind Apex in 2027.

By mid-2027, the company will operate a 12-vessel fleet.