Cadeler delivers Wind Ace, its 11th offshore wind installation vessel, ahead of East Anglia TWO project deployment
AI-madeCadeler just took delivery of Wind Ace—its eleventh offshore wind installation vessel and second A-class newbuild—on schedule and within budget. Built over two years at COSCO Shipping Offshore’s shipyard in Qidong, China, the ship logged more than 3.5 million working hours without a single lost-time accident. After mobilization, Wind Ace heads straight to the North Sea to support ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm.
Cadeler takes delivery of Wind Ace on schedule and within budget
Finishing a major construction project on time and under budget is never guaranteed in offshore energy. Doing it while logging over 3.5 million working hours without a single lost-time accident is something else entirely. That’s the record Wind Ace carries into service as Cadeler’s newest vessel.
Wind Ace is the second of three A-class newbuilds in Cadeler’s fleet expansion program. Construction ran for two years at COSCO Shipping Offshore’s facility in Qidong, China—handover came on schedule and within budget. Zero lost-time accidents across millions of hours of work. Even by industry standards, that safety record stands out.
A third A-class vessel, Wind Apex, is due in H1 2027, continuing the company’s fleet expansion into the next generation of large-scale offshore wind projects.
Earlier in 2025, the vessel was officially named at a ceremony that reflected the partnership already in place. Lisa Western of ScottishPower Renewables served as godmother, a nod to Wind Ace’s upcoming role on East Anglia TWO and the working relationship between the two companies.
Why Cadeler built Wind Ace: Fleet strategy and growing turbine scale
The offshore wind industry isn’t standing still. Turbines are getting bigger, foundations heavier, and projects more complex to execute. Cadeler’s A-class vessels are a direct response to that shift.
Wind Ace is purpose-built to handle both XXL monopile foundations and next-generation wind turbine generators. Its hybrid flexibility is what makes the design especially valuable—the vessel can convert between foundation and turbine installation scopes in a relatively short timeframe, which matters when project schedules are tight and sea conditions don’t cooperate.
Handling both scopes on a single vessel also positions Cadeler as a full-scope installation partner rather than a contractor covering one phase and stepping aside. Wind farms are growing in scale, and clients increasingly need partners who can manage more of the installation process from start to finish. Wind Ace joins sister vessel Wind Ally in the A-class lineup, with a third ship — Wind Apex — currently under construction and scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2027.
Wind Ace to support East Anglia TWO, a 960 MW North Sea wind farm
Wind Ace’s first major assignment is already locked in. The vessel will deploy on East Anglia TWO, a 960 MW offshore wind farm being developed by ScottishPower Renewables—part of the Iberdrola Group—on the North Sea off the south-east coast of England.
Cadeler holds firm contracts, announced in 2024, to transport and install all 64 wind turbine generators and their foundations for the project. That covers both major phases of offshore installation — a significant scope by any measure.
Offshore works are scheduled to begin in 2027. Wind Ace will operate on the project alongside one of Cadeler’s O-class vessels, pairing two different vessel types to meet the project’s demands. Once East Anglia TWO is operational, it’s projected to generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of nearly one million homes—putting it among the more consequential offshore wind developments currently in the pipeline for UK waters.
Context: Cadeler’s expanding fleet and position in offshore wind installation
With Wind Ace now in service, Cadeler operates eleven offshore wind installation vessels. That’s a substantial fleet in a sector where specialized installation capacity remains a limiting factor for how quickly new projects can come online.
The company has been deliberate about positioning itself as a full-scope partner—handling both foundation and turbine installation rather than specializing in just one phase. The A-class series is the clearest expression of that approach, with vessels designed from the outset to switch between scopes efficiently. CEO Mikkel Gleerup framed the delivery in those terms, stating that Wind Ace marks another step in the company’s long-term strategy to build the industry’s most capable and versatile fleet and that as turbines and foundations grow larger, clients need partners who can deliver safely and reliably across the full scope of installation.
Wind Apex, the third A-class vessel, is due in the first half of 2027—the same year offshore works begin on East Anglia TWO. Cadeler appears to be building capacity in direct step with its contracted pipeline.
Cadeler holds contracts to install 64 turbines
Wind Ace is Cadeler’s eleventh offshore wind installation vessel and second A-class newbuild, delivered on schedule and within budget after two years of construction in China. Its first deployment will be on ScottishPower Renewables’ 960 MW East Anglia TWO wind farm, where Cadeler holds firm contracts to install all 64 turbines and their foundations, with offshore works starting in 2027. A third A-class vessel, Wind Apex, is due in H1 2027, continuing the company’s fleet expansion into the next generation of large-scale offshore wind projects.
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.
