Cadeler contracts Wind Apex vessel to install 87 turbines at Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm from 2027
Cadeler just locked in a firm contract to handle the transportation and installation of 87 turbines at Dogger Bank C — the third and final 1.2 GW phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm currently under construction. The Danish installation specialist is sending its newbuild jack-up vessel Wind Apex to the project starting in Q3 2027, straight from the shipyard. That’s its very first assignment.
The contract comes from the Dogger Bank C joint venture — SSE, Equinor, and Vårgrønn — who are developing the broader 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm off England’s northeast coast.
Cadeler signs contract for Dogger Bank C turbine installation
Announced November 4, 2026, the contract puts Cadeler in charge of transporting and installing all 87 turbines in the Dogger Bank C phase. Wind Apex joins from Q3 2027 as supplementary vessel capacity, working alongside an installation vessel already on the project.
SSE leads development and construction for all three partners, while Equinor takes over operations once complete, for what’s expected to be a 35-year lifespan.
The scope is clear: 87 turbines across a single 1.2 GW phase. Wind Apex will also remain available to support the broader Dogger Bank development as the project moves toward full completion — not just this phase.
Why additional vessel capacity was needed for Dogger Bank C
Dogger Bank isn’t a typical offshore wind project. At 3.6 GW split across three equal 1.2 GW phases, it’s the largest offshore wind farm under construction anywhere in the world right now, and that kind of scale creates logistical demands one installation vessel simply can’t meet alone.
Wind Apex adds capacity rather than replacing anything already in place. With 87 turbines to install in Dogger Bank C alone, running two vessels makes practical sense — both for pace and for operational flexibility when North Sea conditions don’t cooperate.
Cadeler’s A-class vessels combine high deck load with some of the highest crane capacities in the industry. Wind Apex is the third in the A-class series, following Wind Ally and Wind Ace, and is designed to handle both foundation and turbine installation campaigns — making it a strong fit for the latest generation of large offshore turbines.
Impact on Dogger Bank’s completion and UK renewable energy output
Bringing Wind Apex on board supports timely delivery of Dogger Bank C and the phases that follow. When all three phases are complete, the 3.6 GW wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power around six million UK homes annually — a number that makes the project’s completion timeline genuinely significant for UK energy policy.
For Cadeler, there’s a milestone embedded here. Wind Apex enters service for the first time on this contract, going straight from shipyard delivery into one of the world’s most high-profile offshore wind campaigns.
Cadeler CEO Mikkel Gleerup framed it in terms of customer trust: “We value the long-standing relationships we have built with our customers and see these contracts as a reflection of the trust they place in Cadeler to execute large-scale offshore wind projects safely and efficiently.”
Alan Borland, Turbine Director at Dogger Bank Wind Farm, matched that tone. “Securing additional specialist vessel capacity for Dogger Bank C is another important step in the delivery of this world-leading offshore wind project,” he said, adding that the focus stays on safe delivery across all three phases.
Background: Dogger Bank project structure and Cadeler’s prior work
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE (40%), Equinor (40%), and Vårgrønn (20%). The site sits roughly 130 km off England’s northeast coast — far enough offshore to demand specialist vessels capable of handling tough North Sea conditions. SSE leads development and construction for all three partners, while Equinor takes over operations once complete, for what’s expected to be a 35-year lifespan.
Cadeler’s involvement here isn’t new ground. The company has worked with SSE on the Beatrice and Seagreen offshore wind farms in the UK, and holds contracts for the Equinor-partnered Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects in Poland. Both dominant Dogger Bank partners already have a working history with Cadeler — which matters when you’re committing to a project of this scale.
Wind Apex was built from scratch for both foundation and turbine installation. Its entry into service on Dogger Bank C follows a pattern of A-class vessels landing on large-scale, high-complexity projects.
What this contract means for Dogger Bank C
Several things converged here. A major offshore wind project needed extra specialist vessel capacity for its third and final phase. Cadeler had a newbuild vessel ready to enter service. And the company carried existing relationships with both SSE and Equinor — the two dominant partners in the joint venture — built across multiple prior projects.
The result is a firm contract covering 87 turbines, with Wind Apex joining from Q3 2027 and remaining available for the project’s remaining phases. When Dogger Bank Wind Farm is fully operational, it’ll be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, and Wind Apex will have had a direct hand in getting it there.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
