UPDATE 2: Maersk Offshore Wind cancels near-complete wind turbine installation vessel

The innovative wind turbine installation vessel is 98.9% complete and was due to operate with two feeder barges and tugs chartered from Edison Chouest Offshore. For the time being, the status of the deal for the barges and tugs is unclear.

The installation vessel was ordered by Maersk Offshore Wind from Sembcorp Marine business unit Sembcorp Marine Rigs & Floaters Pte Ltd, now known as Seatrium Energy (International) Pte Ltd (SEI), in March 2022. The contract was placed by Maersk Offshore Wind, through an affiliate, to provide a vessel for deployment on the Empire Wind 1 offshore windfarm, which the Trump administration recently tried to halt. Once Empire Wind was complete, it was also expected to play a role installing other offshore windfarms in US waters.

Seatrium said the contract has a total value of approximately US$475M. It received a notice of termination under the contract on 9 October 2025.

In a statement, the wind turbine installation company said, “Maersk Offshore Wind can confirm that it has terminated its newbuilding contract with Seatrium Energy (International) Pte Ltd, (formerly Sembcorp Marine Rigs & Floaters Pte Ltd) in Singapore, for the construction of a wind turbine installation vessel, due to delays and related construction issues. Maersk Offshore Wind has no further comment at this time.”

SEI said it will explore viable solutions, including with the end-customer, Empire Offshore Wind LLC. It is reviewing the validity of the notice of termination, as well as the ‘allegations’ set out therein.

SEI is also evaluating its legal and commercial options in respect of the contract, including the right to contest the notice of termination, and/or to commence legal proceedings to seek all available remedies for wrongful termination.

The company said it will make appropriate announcements in the event of any material developments. Shareholders were advised to exercise caution when dealing with the shares or other securities of the group.

Responding to the termination notice, Clarksons Securities equity research analyst Roald Hartvigsen noted that the vessel is specifically designed for the US offshore wind market. “With US offshore wind projects facing major delays and cancellations, Maersk Offshore Wind’s move to reduce exposure isn’t surprising,” he told OWJ. “The vessel was previously supposed to serve at least four different projects, but was eventually left with Empire Wind windfarm. A key question now is which vessel will be used to service the Equinor project.

“We understand that one option for Equinor is to either acquire or charter the vessel directly from the yard. Other installation vessel owners with open vessel capacity are also expected to offer installation services, but which option Equinor will choose remains uncertain for now.” 

In May 2025, Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Equinor, was informed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that the stop work order had been lifted, allowing construction activities to resume.

Equinor said it would undertake an updated assessment of the project economics in the second quarter. It said Empire Offshore Wind aimed to be able to execute planned activities in the offshore installation window in 2025 and reach its planned commercial operation date in 2027 and would engage with suppliers and regulatory bodies to reduce the impact of the stop work order.

Foundation installation for Empire Wind 1 began in June 2025 and was due to take place into autumn 2025. Additional work in 2025 was due to include installing cables in the lease area and an export cable that will deliver the power to New York. Wind turbine installation was due to begin in early 2026.