Cadeler's Wind Apex Secures Debut Contract for 87-Turbine Dogger Bank C Installation in the UK

The 1.2 GW third phase of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm has gained an additional turbine installation vessel, with Cadeler confirming a firm contract that will bring its newly built Wind Apex to the project in the third quarter of 2027.

Contract Secured

The deployment will be the vessel's first job after she leaves the shipyard, and she will support the transport and installation of the 87 offshore wind turbines planned for Dogger Bank C,

located roughly 130 kilometres off the north-east coast of England. For Cadeler, the assignment represents more than a single campaign. The company states that Wind Apex will also be available to deploy across the remaining phases of the wider Dogger Bank development, giving the joint venture partners additional vessel capacity as the world's largest offshore wind farm in construction moves toward completion.

A newbuild enters service on a flagship project

Wind Apex is the third vessel in Cadeler's A-class series, built after her sister ships Wind Ally and Wind Ace. The A-class design is intended to handle both foundation installation and turbine installation campaigns, pairing a high deck load with one of the highest crane capacities in the industry. Cadeler says this combination allows the efficient installation of the latest generation of offshore wind foundations and their associated turbines.

Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, said the contract underlines the trust the company's customers place in it. "Dogger Bank is one of the world's most ambitious offshore wind developments, and we are proud to support its delivery. We value the long-standing relationships we have built with our customers and see these contracts as a reflection of the trust they place in Cadeler to execute large-scale offshore wind projects safely and efficiently.

The campaign will also mark the first deployment of Wind Apex, and we look forward to seeing her begin operations on a project of this scale," Gleerup said. Under the agreement, Wind Apex will not work alone. She is contracted to operate alongside the project's existing installation vessel, adding capacity to the turbine installation campaign rather than replacing it.

What Dogger Bank C means for the UK's energy supply

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being delivered in three equal 1.2GW phases, named Dogger Bank A, B and C, for a total capacity of 3.6GW. Once all three phases are complete, the project is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power around six million UK homes annually. Dogger Bank C is the third of those phases. The wider development is structured as a joint venture in which SSE holds 40%, Equinor holds 40% and Vårgrønn holds 20%.

SSE is leading development and construction on behalf of all three partners, while Equinor will take over operations when the wind farm is complete and is expected to run it for an operational life of approximately 35 years. Alan Borland, Turbine Director at Dogger Bank Wind Farm, described the addition of Wind Apex as an important step for the project's delivery.

"Securing additional specialist vessel capacity for Dogger Bank C is another important step in the delivery of this world-leading offshore wind project. Wind Apex will join the campaign as an additional turbine installation vessel, working alongside the project's existing installation vessel to safely and efficiently install Dogger Bank C's 87 turbines and support the completion of the remaining phases of the project.

Together with our partners and contractors, we remain focused on the safe delivery of all three phases of Dogger Bank and the homegrown renewable energy the wind farm will provide for the UK," Borland said.

A track record with SSE and a growing order book

The Dogger Bank C contract extends an existing commercial relationship between Cadeler and SSE, one of the project's joint venture partners. Cadeler has previously provided vessels for SSE's Beatrice and Seagreen offshore wind farms, both located in the UK.

Beyond Dogger Bank and the UK market, Cadeler will also work on the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind projects in Poland, which are developed in partnership with Equinor. That pipeline places the company's vessels on two of Europe's most significant offshore wind programs in quick succession.

Cadeler's position in the installation market

Cadeler A/S positions itself as a global leader in the transport and installation of offshore wind turbines. The company owns and operates the largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels in the industry and is broadening its business into full-scope foundation transport and installation, as well as operations and maintenance services.

The company is publicly listed on two exchanges: its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CDLR and on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker CADLR.

Timing and scope of the new contract

The firm contract covers Wind Apex's participation in the Dogger Bank C turbine installation campaign beginning in Q3 2027, immediately following its delivery from the shipyard. Her scope includes transportation and installation work for the phase's 87 turbines, performed in tandem with the project's existing installation vessel. Availability across the remaining phases of the Dogger Bank project is also part of the arrangement, giving the joint venture flexibility as construction continues.

With the world's largest offshore wind farm under construction at Dogger Bank, the addition of a third A-class vessel on its first commercial assignment adds further installation capacity to a project whose three 1.2 GW phases are being delivered concurrently by SSE, Equinor and Vårgrønn.