Cadeler has completed the keel laying of Wind Apex at the COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong, China, marking the completion of the vessel’s first hull block and the start of hull assembly.

Scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2027, Wind Apex will become the twelfth vessel in Cadeler‘s fleet and the third A-class vessel to be commissioned.

The A-class series is designed to support both foundation and wind turbine installation. Wind Apex will feature 5,600 m² of deck space, a payload capacity of more than 17,000 tonnes and a hybrid design that allows conversion between foundation installation and wind turbine installation modes. The capacity of the vessel’s main crane will be disclosed at a later date.

According to Cadeler, A-class vessels can transport and install seven complete 15-MW turbine sets per load or six sets of XXL monopile foundations.

The company announced the contract for the third A-class vessel on 22 May 2024. The contract price for the vessel’s delivery is approximately $400 million.