Cadeler, the offshore wind installation, operations, and maintenance services major, has taken delivery of its first P-class jack-up installation vessel, Wind Peak, from the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (COSCO) shipyard in Qidong, China. The vessel that has been designed to handle some of the largest wind turbine components in the offshore wind industry is now set to start commercial operations. 

“To celebrate this impressive vessel coming into operation is a landmark occasion for Cadeler and our great partners on the project. For everyone involved, this is the culmination of years of hard work, planning, and supervision, and I am extremely pleased to take delivery of this remarkable asset to Cadeler, on time and within budget,” Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, stated.

Advanced tech

Wind Peak and its sister ship, Wind Pace, are designed to work at some of the toughest offshore installation sites worldwide. They can handle large loads and have advanced technology, making them capable of installing the largest wind turbines currently in use globally. Wind Pace is currently being built.

“Our customers are constantly pushing the boundaries in terms of size and complexity of the wind turbines being installed offshore. As a trusted supplier to the industry, our success is a measure of our ability to cater to these changing needs both now and in the future,” Gleerup added.

Liang Yanfeng, Chairman of COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry said, “This project pioneers the use of hybrid oil-electric power technology and is among the most advanced offshore wind turbine installation vessels globally.”

The P-class vessels are built to transport and install either seven complete 15 MW turbine sets or five sets of 20+ MW turbines per load. This capacity reduces the energy intensity and installation time, ultimately lowering the total cost and carbon footprint per turbine installation, according to Cadler.

As the largest vessels in the Cadeler fleet, both Wind Peak and Wind Pace offer a 5,600 square metre deck space, a payload capacity of over 17,600 tons, and a main crane capable of lifting more than 2,500 tons at 53 meters. In addition, each vessel can accommodate up to 130 crew members and installation technicians.

The P-class vessels are the result of close cooperation with Cadeler’s strategic partners, including COSCO, GustoMSC NOV, Kongsberg, Huisman, and MAN Energy. The sister ship to Wind Peak, Wind Pace, is scheduled for delivery by the COSCO shipyard to Cadeler in the second quarter of 2025. Both ships will be registered in Denmark.