Cadeler has agreed to acquire the Boqiang 3060, a newly-constructed jack-up wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), from Shanghai Boqiang Heavy Industry Group.
The addition of Boquiang 3060 to the fleet will help Cadeler meet the increasing global demand for offshore wind turbine operations & maintenance (O&M) services.
The vessel will be renamed Wind Keeper.
Completed in 2024 and fitted with advanced European equipment, including a Huisman main crane with a 2200T lifting capacity, Kongsberg’s DP2 dynamic positioning system, MAN-supplied engines and a Siemens propulsion system, the vessel is suited for the global offshore O&M market, with 120-metre-long jack-up legs that will enable her to work on the most challenging offshore sites.
Cadeler expects to take delivery of the Wind Keeper in Q3 2025, for a purchase price significantly below the vessel’s estimated replacement cost.
While the vessel comes equipped to a high standard, Cadeler will invest in certain upgrades to improve her operational capacity and align her onboard offering with that of Cadeler’s existing fleet.
After the contemplated upgrades, the vessel will be capable of supporting new installations in the 15MW segment.
Cadeler is continuing to assess the cost to Cadeler of such upgrades and will communicate its total investment in the vessel in due course.
The acquisition is fully debt financed on attractive terms, with a facility provided by DNB Bank.
“With the installed base of offshore wind turbines growing substantially, there is a greater need than ever before for reliable and flexible O&M support to ensure uptime and maximise energy production,” said Mikkel Gleerup, Cadeler’s Chief Executive Officer.
“As an installation-capable, service-oriented asset, the Wind Keeper will be a valuable addition to our fleet. She strongly complements our existing vessel portfolio, immediately permitting operational synergies and allowing us to provide much-needed service support to our clients’ operating offshore assets.”