Cadeler has taken delivery of Wind Ace, its eleventh offshore wind installation vessel and the second of three advanced A-class newbuilds constructed at the COSCO shipyard in China. Delivered on schedule and within budget with a stellar safety record, the versatile vessel is capable of rapidly converting between XXL foundation and turbine installation. Following mobilization, Wind Ace will deploy to the UK North Sea to support ScottishPower Renewables’ 960 MW East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm.
Copenhagen, Denmark | July 17, 2026 – Offshore wind installation leader Cadeler has officially taken delivery of Wind Ace, its eleventh wind installation vessel and the second of three highly anticipated A-class newbuilds. Constructed at the COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong, China, the milestone asset was handed over strictly on schedule and within budget, backed by an unblemished safety record of over 3.5 million working hours without a single lost-time accident.
Following mobilization, Wind Ace is set to head straight to UK waters to support ScottishPower Renewables’ massive East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm.
Purpose-Built for Flexibility and Scale
As offshore wind components balloon in physical scale and complexity, industry demand has decisively shifted toward full-scope installation partners capable of handling both heavy foundations and towering turbines.
The A-class series is engineered specifically to bridge this gap through a versatile hybrid design:
- Dual-Scope Capability: Wind Ace can rapidly convert between the installation of massive XXL monopile foundations and next-generation wind turbine generators.
- Unmatched Efficiency: Designed to carry massive payloads, the vessel can cut down transit counts per project by concurrently hauling heavy assemblies.
- Safety Milestone: The two-year build in Qidong was finalized with zero lost-time incidents across 3.5 million labor hours, marking an exemplary safety achievement for complex shipyard construction.
First Mission: East Anglia TWO
Following its initial preparation phase, Wind Ace will deploy to the North Sea off the coast of Suffolk, England, to work on ScottishPower Renewables’ 960 MW East Anglia TWO project.
Under firm contracts secured in 2024, Cadeler is tasked with the full-scope transportation and installation of all 64 wind turbine generators and their corresponding foundations. Offshore construction is slated to kick off in 2027, with Wind Ace operating alongside one of Cadeler’s established O-class vessels. Once online, the 960 MW site will generate enough clean electricity to power roughly one million British homes.
Leadership Perspective
Commenting on the strategic expansion of the fleet, Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, underscored the value of versatility in meeting modern developer demands:
“The delivery of Wind Ace marks another important step in our long-term strategy to build the industry’s most capable and versatile fleet. Together with her sister vessel Wind Ally, Wind Ace strengthens our ability to support the next generation of offshore wind projects. As turbines and foundations grow larger and projects become more complex, our clients need full-scope installation partners with the capabilities to deliver safely and reliably.”
With Wind Ace successfully integrated into operations, Cadeler’s active fleet rises to 11 specialized units. The company’s fleet expansion continues at pace, with the third A-class sister vessel, Wind Apex, tracking toward delivery in the first half of 2027.
About Cadeler
Cadeler A/S is a pure-play offshore wind installation partner and a global leader in offshore wind turbine transport and installation. The company owns and operates the industry’s largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels and is expanding its capabilities into full-scope foundation transport and installation, as well as operations and maintenance. With its modern fleet and depth of expertise across both onshore and offshore operations, Cadeler supports the safe, efficient, and reliable delivery of offshore wind projects worldwide. Cadeler is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: CDLR) and the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: CADLR).
Source: Cadeler