Cadeler has ordered two new T-class jack-up installation vessels in a move to plug the chronic offshore WTIV global shortage.
The Danish offshore wind installation specialist has signed firm contracts with COSCO Shipping Offshore in Qidong, China, for two new jack-ups for a cool €805 million in total. The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031.
The order is the latest move by Cadeler to lock in installation capacity years ahead of demand. The company already operates one of the industry’s largest fleets of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels, with 11 vessels in operation following the delivery of Wind Ace last month. Wind Apex is due in 2027.
The strategy reflects a growing problem for offshore wind developers. While the project pipeline is expanding, the number of modern vessels capable of installing increasingly large turbines has not kept pace. The resulting shortage risks becoming a bottleneck for projects, particularly as turbine sizes increase and installation campaigns become more technically demanding.
There is no single universally accepted figure for the global WTIV fleet because vessel databases use different definitions, particularly over smaller jack-ups, multipurpose heavy-lift vessels and China’s largely domestic fleet. WindEurope counted 28 WTIVs worldwide in its 2022 assessment, while more recent commercial estimates put the broader dedicated fleet at roughly 45-55 active vessels. Only a much smaller subset – estimated at around 12-15 vessels – comprises the highest-capacity jack-ups capable of handling the industry’s largest turbines.
The specialist market is dominated by a handful of owners and operators, including Cadeler, DEME, Jan De Nul, Van Oord, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, Seaway7 and Heerema Marine Contractors. China and Japan also account for a significant number of vessels, although many are primarily deployed in domestic markets.
Cadeler’s answer is to build further ahead of the market. Its T-class vessels are designed to be its largest and most capable ships yet, with technologies intended to handle increasingly complex installation projects and larger turbines.
“As offshore wind projects become larger and more technically demanding, developers need installation partners with the experience, specialised capabilities and modern fleet to deliver them safely and reliably,” said Mikkel Gleerup, Cadeler’s CEO.
“Our investment in the T-class reflects our commitment to staying ahead of future customer requirements, delivering best-in-class technical solutions and raising the bar for excellence in offshore wind installation.”
The vessels will be built by COSCO Shipping Offshore, extending a relationship that has already produced several ships for Cadeler’s fleet expansion programme. Gleerup described the Chinese shipyard as a “valued partner” whose understanding of Cadeler’s requirements and commitment to quality had helped support the company’s expansion.
The €805m order also underlines the increasingly capital-intensive race to secure offshore wind installation capacity, and Cadeler says it is already in discussions with key clients over deployment.
