New Wind Installation Vessel Wind Ally Delivered Ahead of Schedule for Ørsted's Landmark Wind Farm
Cadeler has announced the successful delivery of its first A-class vessel, Wind Ally, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion strategy. The vessel was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, becoming the ninth addition to Cadeler's growing fleet of next-generation wind installation vessels. Wind Ally will now undergo scheduled mobilization before heading directly to operations at Ørsted's Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the North Sea.
The delivery represents a strategic shift for Cadeler as the company takes on the entire transport and installation scope for offshore monopile foundations for the first time. This move positions Cadeler as a full-service provider in the foundations market, a capability the company has been building over the past year through the establishment of a new department of dedicated specialists and investments in vessel design tailored for XXL monopiles.
Wind Ally is a massive jack-up installation vessel measuring 162 meters in length with 5,600 square meters of deck space and the ability to carry a payload exceeding 18,000 tonnes. The vessel features a main crane capable of lifting more than 3,300 tonnes at 39 meters and can accommodate up to 130 crew and installation technicians. Its design allows it to transition between foundation installation and wind turbine operations, creating greater efficiency for offshore wind projects.
The vessel was constructed over two years at the Cosco shipyard in Qidong, China, accumulating more than 3.5 million safe working hours during construction. Wind Ally will be followed by sister ships Wind Ace in 2026 and Wind Apex in 2027 as Cadeler continues to expand its fleet capabilities to meet the increasing size and complexity of offshore wind infrastructure projects.
