Offshore Wind: Cadeler Secures Dogger Bank C Contract – UK Government Study Expects Installation Vessel Bottlenecks
Copenhagen – Offshore wind services provider Cadeler has secured an installation contract for the UK’s Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm. The new specialised vessel Wind Apex is to be deployed from the third quarter of 2027 to install 87 wind turbines.
Dogger Bank C: Cadeler Supports Installation of 87 Offshore Wind Turbines
The Dogger Bank offshore wind farm is being built off the northeast coast of England with a planned total capacity of 3.6 GW across three phases of 1.2 GW each. Dogger Bank C is located about 200 kilometres offshore.
Cadeler is providing additional transport and installation services for Dogger Bank C. Wind Apex is to be deployed from the third quarter of 2027 to erect the 87 turbines. According to the project developer, joint deployment with the installation vessel Seaway Ventus is also planned to complete outstanding work across the three phases.
Dogger Bank C is to use 87 GE Vernova Haliade-X turbines of 14 MW each. The project consortium comprises SSE (40 percent), Equinor (40 percent) and Vårgrønn (20 percent). SSE is leading construction, while Equinor will subsequently take over operations.
Cadeler Expands Specialised Fleet – Wind Apex Ahead of First Deployment
Wind Apex is scheduled for delivery from the shipyard in China in the first half of 2027. The vessel belongs to Cadeler’s A-class, which is designed for the installation of turbines and foundations. It is the third vessel in this series after Wind Ally and Wind Ace. The vessels are equipped for the installation of large offshore components, with high deck load capacity and powerful cranes.
In the first half of 2026, Cadeler increased revenue to EUR 408 million, from EUR 188 million in the same period a year earlier. EBITDA rose from EUR 102 million to EUR 208 million. The 2025 comparative figures are adjusted for one-off contract termination payments of EUR 111 million. On this basis, both figures more than doubled.
The order backlog stood at just under EUR 2.5 billion on August 25, 2026, compared with around EUR 2.8 billion in March. The new Dogger Bank contract is not yet included.
Offshore Wind Market: Larger Turbines Raise Demands on Installation Vessels
According to industry association Wind Europe, offshore wind farms with a combined 2.3 GW were newly connected to the grid in Europe in the first half of 2026, more than three times the volume of the same period a year earlier (741 MW). Total grid-connected offshore capacity reached 40.9 GW.
Investment development remains weak. According to Wind Europe, only one offshore project with 630 MW reached a final investment decision in the first half of 2026. Around 48 GW of already awarded offshore capacity is still waiting for one. Wind Europe expects offshore capacity additions of more than 33 GW by 2030.
According to Wind Europe, the average capacity of offshore turbines newly connected in Europe in the first half of 2026 was 12.6 MW, while newly ordered turbines averaged 15 MW. Larger turbines require correspondingly more capable installation vessels.
A study published in April 2026 by consultancy Baringa on behalf of the UK energy ministry shows that the number of installation vessels suitable for turbines above 15 MW has risen from 16 to 21 compared with the previous study from 2024. Nevertheless, the study expects a significant shortage of installation vessels for offshore wind turbines in the 12 to 15 MW class from 2026 to 2028. It places the expected capacity gap in a category with a shortfall of more than 50 percent. The 14 MW turbines planned for Dogger Bank C also fall into this class.
For providers such as Cadeler, larger turbines open up additional opportunities for deployment. At the same time, long-term fleet utilisation depends on whether planned offshore projects reach investment decisions and are implemented.
Source: IWR Online, 06 Nov 2026
