Global offshore wind update: Cadeler, DEME and Semco Maritime advance key projects

Cadeler has taken delivery of its first A-class vessel, Wind Ally, by Cosco Shipyard in China.

This is the ninth vessel in Cadeler’s wind installation fleet. Following mobilization, it will head to the UK southern North Sea, transporting and installing (T&I) foundations for Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm development.

“Over the past year, we have built the needed capabilities to take on the full foundations scope," CEO Mikkel Gleerup said. “Establishing an entirely new department of dedicated specialists and investing in the design of vessels tailored for XXL monopiles has been a huge effort across the company. Hornsea 3 will be the first project where we bring all of this preparation together…”

The A-class hybrid design for the new vessel, allowing for swift conversion between foundation installation and turbine generator installations, was a collaborative effort between Cadeler and COSCO, GustoMSC, NOV, Kongsberg, Huisman and MAN Energy. The design also takes into account the increasing size and complexity of offshore wind turbines and foundations.

Wind Ally has deck space of 5,600 sq m, a payload capacity of more than 18,000 t and a main crane that can lift structures above 3,300 metric tons at 39 m.

The vessel can transport and install up to six sets of XXL monopile foundations per journey, reducing the number and duration of transits. It can accommodate up to 130 crew members and technicians.

Cadeler’s expects to take delivery of sister newbuild vessel Wind Ace in the second half of next year, followed by a third newbuild, Wind Apex, in 2027.

Hornsea 3, with a power generating capacity of 2.9 GW, will be one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms.

DEME to install 35 Formosa 4 wind farm foundations

In Taiwan, DEME, via its local joint venture CDWE, has been awarded a contract for T&I of 35 foundations, the offshore substation and scour protection works for the 495-MW Formosa 4 wind farm, which is being developed by Synera Renewable Energy. 

The project is about 20 km from the coast of Miaoli County.

DEME plans to deploy the Green Jade floating offshore installation vessel, owned and operated by CDWE. It is the first of its type to be designed and built in Taiwan. A rock placement vessel will handle the scour protection program.

RWE awards Semco Maritime offshore services contract

Finally, RWE Offshore Wind has awarded Semco Maritime an offshore services frame agreement that runs until the end of 2027, with an option for a two-year extension. 

It covers both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance above water and troubleshooting for auxiliary equipment at RWE’s offshore substations.

Currently, the scope of the agreement takes in RWE’s offshore wind farms in the North Sea: Amrumbank West, Nordsee Ost and Kaskasi near the island of Heligoland and Arkona in the Baltic Sea.

Once RWE and partner Norges Bank Investment Management have commissioned the Nordseecluster projects, these too will fall under the frame agreement.

Semco Maritime added that having one dedicated project team to plan and perform service works though use of multi-skilled technicians can help reduce risks and costs for the offshore operations.