Danish offshore wind installation firm Cadeler has taken delivery of its first A-class vessel, Wind Ally, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion into full-service foundation transport and installation.
The vessel was delivered ahead of schedule and within budget after a two-year construction period at Cosco’s Qidong shipyard in China. It is the ninth vessel in Cadeler’s fleet and the first of three A-class ships the company has under construction.
“With Wind Ally now delivered ahead of schedule and immediately deployed to this landmark project, we are taking a decisive step into a new chapter for Cadeler,” Chief Executive Mikkel Gleerup said in a statement.
Following mobilisation, Wind Ally will begin operations at Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the North Sea, where Cadeler will carry out the full transport and installation (T&I) of monopile foundations. The company said it is the first time it will deliver the complete T&I scope, positioning Cadeler as a full-service provider in the offshore foundations market.
“Hornsea 3 will be the first project where we bring all of this preparation together, and I am proud that we now stand ready to deliver the complete T&I of foundations as a trusted and long-term partner to Ørsted,” Gleerup added.
The vessel, officially named on September 24 during a ceremony attended by Cadeler leadership and partners, was built with a focus on safety, completing more than 3.5 million working hours without a lost-time incident, according to the company.
The A-class design includes a 5,600m² deck, a payload capacity exceeding 18,000 tonnes, and a crane capable of lifting over 3,300 tonnes at 39 metres. Cadeler said Wind Ally can transport and install up to six XXL monopile foundations per load, enhancing operational efficiency and safety during offshore campaigns.
Two additional A-class vessels—Wind Ace and Wind Apex—are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Once completed, Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 project will have a generation capacity of 2.9 gigawatts, supplying electricity to more than three million UK homes.
