Cadeler Announces Early Delivery of Wind Mover, Strengthening Its Position With a Tenth Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
Cadeler has announced the successful and ahead-of-schedule delivery of its newest wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), Wind Mover, marking a major milestone in the company’s rapid fleet expansion. With this delivery, Wind Mover becomes the tenth vessel to join Cadeler’s fast-growing lineup of next-generation offshore installation assets, reinforcing the company’s ambition to operate the most advanced and comprehensive fleet in the offshore wind sector. After a brief mobilisation period, the vessel will proceed directly into commercial operations across Europe, where demand for large-scale offshore wind installation capabilities continues to accelerate.
Wind Mover is the second vessel in Cadeler’s newly developed M-class series, following the delivery of her sister ship, Wind Maker, earlier this year. Together, the two vessels represent the newest generation of installation technology designed specifically to meet the increasingly complex needs of tomorrow’s offshore wind developments. As offshore wind turbines grow in size and projects are planned in deeper waters and more challenging environments, installation vessels require significantly enhanced lifting capacity, deck space, precision positioning, and operational versatility. The M-class vessels were engineered to address these evolving demands while also meeting the industry’s expectations for environmental performance and cost efficiency.
The vessel was constructed at the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in Korea, one of the world’s leading shipyards for specialised offshore construction vessels. Cadeler reports that the project progressed exceptionally well: Wind Mover was delivered ahead of schedule, remained within the allocated budget, and achieved a strong safety record throughout the build and testing phases. The vessel’s advanced design is the result of extensive collaboration between Cadeler and several key industry partners. These include Hanwha Ocean for shipbuilding, ABB and Kongsberg for critical onboard systems and automation technologies, GustoMSC for offshore operational design expertise, and Huisman for crane engineering.
Wind Mover has already secured firm work in Europe, reflecting the strong demand in the region for installation capacity as offshore wind deployment ramps up. Cadeler had announced these contracts earlier in the year, highlighting the vessel’s immediate contribution to commercial operations and the company’s revenue pipeline. The readiness of Wind Mover to enter service straight after delivery underscores Cadeler’s strategy to match fleet growth with committed customer demand.
The vessel is equipped with a 2,600-tonne main crane, one of the most powerful cranes currently available on a wind turbine installation vessel. This heavy-lifting capability is crucial for installing the newest generation of offshore wind turbines, which now exceed 15 MW per unit and require increasingly complex foundations. In addition to lifting capacity, Wind Mover features a DP2 dynamic positioning system, enabling precise station-keeping during installation work without the need for anchoring—a critical advantage when working in deeper waters or environmentally sensitive areas. The vessel is capable of operating in water depths of up to 65 metres, allowing it to support a wide range of offshore wind construction activities across various geographical environments.
Wind Mover was also designed to deliver optimal performance in harsh offshore conditions, with improved fuel efficiency, enhanced deck space, and advanced power management systems to reduce emissions and operational costs. These design features ensure the vessel can handle the scale and technical complexity of modern offshore wind farms while meeting industry expectations for environmental sustainability.
Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, emphasised the strategic significance of this latest delivery, stating:
“The delivery of Wind Mover, ahead of schedule, represents another step in our long-term strategy to operate the most advanced and versatile fleet in the offshore wind sector. With both Wind Mover and Wind Maker now delivered, we are well-equipped to meet the scale and complexity of global offshore wind projects. After her delivery, Wind Mover will head straight to work installing and maintaining the largest turbines in the market.”
Gleerup’s comments reinforce the company’s commitment to establishing technological leadership and ensuring that its fleet remains aligned with the rapidly evolving requirements of global offshore wind development.
The delivery of Wind Mover is part of a broader and significant expansion effort at Cadeler. In the past twelve months alone, the company has added five newbuild vessels, effectively doubling its fleet size from five to ten WTIVs. This rapid scale-up demonstrates both the company’s financial strength and its confidence in the long-term growth trajectory of the offshore wind industry. As the global push for renewable energy accelerates, offshore wind has emerged as one of the central pillars of energy transition strategies for Europe, Asia, and many other regions. Installation capacity is a major bottleneck, and companies with modern, high-capability fleets—like Cadeler—are positioned to play a decisive role in project timelines and success.
Cadeler aims to operate a 12-vessel fleet by mid-2027, creating what is expected to be the largest and most versatile offshore wind installation fleet in the world. With the addition of Wind Mover and the continued rollout of next-generation installation vessels, the company is well placed to serve the global market’s increasing demand for efficient, reliable, and high-capacity offshore construction solutions.
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