Cadeler, a leading offshore wind installation company, has celebrated the naming ceremony of its latest P-class jack-up wind turbine installation vessel, Wind Pace, at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (COSCO) shipyard in Qidong, China. This milestone marks a significant expansion of Cadeler’s fleet, positioning the company to meet the growing demands of the global offshore wind industry.
Following its delivery, Wind Pace will be deployed to a wind farm development off the US East Coast, marking Cadeler’s second project in US waters. This deployment follows the successful delivery and initial deployment of its sister vessel, Wind Peak, which is currently operating at the Sofia wind farm off the Yorkshire coast in the UK’s southern North Sea.
Wind Pace is designed to handle the installation of increasingly larger turbines, accommodating next-generation wind farm developments and challenging offshore conditions. The P-class vessels, including Wind Pace and Wind Peak, can transport and install up to seven 15MW turbine sets or five 20+MW turbines per voyage, significantly reducing installation time and costs.
These vessels boast advanced features, including hybrid power systems and cyber-secure operational infrastructure, enhancing both efficiency and safety. With a deck space of 5,600 square meters and a payload capacity exceeding 17,600 metric tons, they are among the largest in Cadeler’s fleet. The main crane on Wind Pace can lift loads of up to 2,600 metric tons at 47 meters, and the vessel can accommodate up to 130 crew members and installation technicians.
The design of Wind Pace and Wind Peak is the result of a collaborative effort involving COSCO, GustoMSC, NOV, Kongsberg, Huisman, and MAN Energy, underscoring Cadeler’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology and industry expertise. This launch reinforces Cadeler’s strategic position in the rapidly expanding offshore wind energy sector.
