The Danish offshore shipping company Cadeler has taken delivery of its next installation vessel, the “Wind Pace”.
It will be able to transport and install up to seven complete 15 MW turbine sets per load. This is the company’s response to the increasing size of offshore wind turbines and the growing demand in the industry.
According to Cadeler, the “Wind Pace” was delivered on time and on budget. She is the shipping company’s seventh installation vessel. It was built at the Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry shipyard in Qidong, China, where the christening took place on March 12.
From the second quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, the ship will be used for the construction of an offshore wind farm in the USA. It is Cadelers second project in American waters. The sister ship “Wind Peak“, which was delivered in August 2024, has recently been deployed in the construction of the Sofia offshore wind farm off the English coast. With a capacity of 1.4 GW, this is one of the largest wind farms in the world.
Cadeler increases construction capacity
The “Wind Pace”, which also belongs to the “P-Class”, was developed for the increasing size and complexity of offshore projects. Vessels of this size can transport and install up to seven complete 15 MW turbine sets per load or five over 20 MW turbines, according to Cadeler. This will reduce the number of round trips required and significantly shorten installation time, while improving energy and cost efficiency.
“The P-class vessels set new standards in offshore wind installation technology,” said Cadeler CEO Mikkel Gleerup. “With advanced crane capacities, improved transportation efficiency and reduced energy intensity, these vessels open up new levels of efficiency for our customers. The ‘Wind Peak’, the first P-class vessel, has already fully demonstrated this since its delivery last year. We also expect the Wind Pace to play a key role in supporting our customers in the necessary expansion of offshore wind energy.”
The P-class vessels each have a deck area of 5,600 m2 and a lifting capacity of 17,600 tons. The main crane is capable of lifting 2,600 tons to 47 m. In addition, each ship offers space for up to 130 crew members and installation technicians. The vessels are the result of a collaboration between Cadeler and partners such as Cosco, Kongsberg and MAN Energy.
“Cadeler has always looked for new ways to provide better solutions for our customers while addressing the increasing need for sustainability in our industry,” continued Gleerup. “The P-Class vessels exemplify this commitment with a design that is prepared for future dual-fuel green methanol operation and an electrical system that captures and stores excess energy for reuse.”
In addition to the P-Class, the largest vessels in the fleet, Cadeler is also waiting for other newbuilds, including the “Wind Maker” and “Wind Mover”. This smaller “M-Class” is to be used primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.
