Cadeler Acquires New Wind Turbine Installation Vessel

Copenhagen-headquartered offshore wind installation player Cadeler has made a significant addition to its fleet with the purchase of a newly constructed jackup wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) from Shanghai Boqiang Heavy Industry.

The company has acquired the 2024-built Boqiang 3060 vessel, which will be rebranded as Wind Keeper. This state-of-the-art vessel is equipped with a Huisman main crane boasting a 2,200 t lifting capacity, Kongsberg’s DP2 dynamic positioning system, MAN-supplied engines, and a Siemens propulsion system. With 120 m long jackup legs, the vessel is well-equipped to handle offshore wind turbine installations.

Expected to take delivery of the vessel in the third quarter of 2025, Cadeler has not disclosed the purchase price but claims it is significantly below the vessel’s estimated replacement cost. The company plans to invest in upgrades to enhance the vessel’s operational capacity, making it compatible with other vessels in its existing fleet. Once the upgrades are completed, the vessel will be capable of supporting new installations in the 15MW segment.

Financing for the acquisition is fully debt-financed on attractive terms, with a facility provided by DNB Bank. Cadeler’s CEO, Mikkel Gleerup, emphasized the importance of reliable and flexible O&M support in the growing offshore wind turbine industry. He stated, “With the installed base of offshore wind turbines growing substantially, there is a greater need than ever before for reliable and flexible O&M support to ensure uptime and maximize energy production.”