18 July 2025 – All In Maritime News
Cadeler, a leading pure-play offshore wind installation company, has officially taken delivery of its newly built jack-up wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), Wind Keeper, marking a strategic expansion of its high-specification fleet. The vessel, acquired from Shanghai Boqiang Heavy Industry Group, becomes the eighth unit in Cadeler’s growing offshore wind fleet, reinforcing the company’s position as a key enabler of the global energy transition.
In parallel with the vessel’s delivery, Cadeler has signed a landmark long-term contract with offshore wind giant Vestas. The agreement, which carries a firm term of three years, is valued at approximately $243 million (€210 million). If all extension options—totalling an additional two and a half years—are exercised, the total contract value could exceed $440 million (€380 million).
Strategic Acquisition to Meet Market Demand
Cadeler first announced the purchase agreement for Wind Keeper in May 2025, recognizing the vessel’s strategic fit within its expanding operations across Europe. With the offshore wind sector transitioning towards larger turbines and increasingly complex project scopes, Wind Keeper is expected to serve as a versatile multi-role vessel, handling both transport and installation (T&I) and operations and maintenance (O&M) tasks.
“This first contract for Wind Keeper is exactly why we made the strategic decision to acquire her,” said Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler. “We see increasing demand in Europe for flexible, high-performance vessels that can support both O&M and installation scopes, and she fits that profile perfectly.”
Vessel Specifications and Upgrades
Following her departure from China in early July 2025, Wind Keeper is now en route to Europe, where she will undergo tailored upgrades ahead of her contractual deployment in Q1 2026. Cadeler confirmed that modifications will align the vessel’s capabilities with the company’s current high-performance standards and will enable her to operate in the 15 MW turbine segment—the current frontier in offshore wind turbine technology.
The vessel will be specifically outfitted with seafastening for three sets of Vestas’ V236-15.0 MW turbines, a significant benchmark for next-generation offshore wind projects. These enhancements will optimize Wind Keeper for both heavy-lift installation and long-duration service assignments in complex offshore environments.
A Long-Term Commitment with Vestas
The collaboration with Vestas, one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, underscores growing industry reliance on agile, multi-role installation partners. Vestas’ selection of Wind Keeper reinforces Cadeler’s reputation for delivering high-capacity, reliable offshore assets capable of supporting Europe’s ambitious renewable energy goals.
“After a series of upgrades to enhance her capabilities, Wind Keeper will be ready to support our trusted partners from 2026,” added Gleerup. “We’re proud to see our vision come to life and grateful to Vestas for the trust they’ve placed in us.”
Cadeler continues to invest aggressively in fleet modernization and expansion, with Wind Keeper joining a lineup of advanced WTIVs purpose-built for the evolving offshore wind market. The latest acquisition and contract reinforce Cadeler’s strategic focus on high-margin, long-term engagements and its commitment to enabling large-scale offshore wind deployment across Europe and beyond.
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