Cadeler triples fleet after ordering second hybrid jack-up installation vessel

Cadeler A/S has placed an order to build its second state-of-the-art F-class vessel. This is the sixth vessel that Cadeler will have in its fleet, hence tripling its number of vessels and creating the largest and most capable fleet of jack-up vessels in the offshore wind industry ready to meet growing market demands.

The global demand for offshore wind capacity and technological developments resulting in increasingly larger wind turbines calls for large installation vessels. As a result, Cadeler has now ordered its second F-class vessel – offering clients a unique hybrid design allowing the vessel to convert from being a foundation installation unit to a wind turbine generator installation vessel within a short period of time.

Cadeler is currently building two X-class as well as an F-class vessel, which are set to be delivered from H2/2024 onwards. The new F-class vessel is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026. All vessels will be built by COSCO Heavy Industries in Qidong, China, and will sail under Danish flag.

Cadeler has been able to achieve a very competitive price due to a strong collaboration that the company has built with COSCO Heavy Industries, synergies from building several similar designed jack-ups and negotiating the option for a second F-class seven months ago. It has been agreed between the parties not to disclose the final price of the contract due to these special circumstances.

“Due to our solid partnership with Cadeler and our strong order book of Cadeler jack-up vessels, we have been able to offer Cadeler a unique deal in the industry. We are honoured that Cadeler continues to see us as a strategic business partner that can deliver the state-of-the-art vessels that the market requires”, says YuJian, Commercial Director from COSCO Shipping (Qidong) Offshore.

The F-class – a unique vessel with dual scope

The second F-class vessel will be built on similar specifications to the first F-class vessel, with a deck space of 5,600m2, a payload of more than 17,600 tons and a main crane capacity to be disclosed at a later date. Both the X- and F-class vessels are today unmatched within the industry. The vessels will be able to transport and install seven complete 15MW turbine sets per load or six sets of 2XL monopile foundations, cutting down the number of transits needed for each project. In line with the X-class vessels, the F-class will cater for some of the largest dimensions in the offshore wind industry.

The X- and F-class vessels are built in close cooperation with Cadeler’s strategic partners, which include GustoMSC NOV, Kongsberg, Huisman and MAN Energy.

Cadeler’s CEO, Mikkel Gleerup says: “The decision to build another F-class vessel is based on the strong market demand for assets specialising in installing foundations. Our yet-to-be-build F-class vessels have already been sought after by our customers. As announced in August, we have signed a firm contract with Ørsted and have also entered a long-term agreement with an undisclosed customer booking the F-class from 2027 to 2030. These commitments are only possible because our clients believe in our abilities to meet their demands with increased flexibility and to offer state-of-the-art vessels that are fit to meet requirements from a fast-growing market.”