New vessel announcement: take an early look on board the Wind Peak

Arriving this month! Take an early look on board the Wind Peak, Sofia’s wind turbine installation vessel, due into Hull in March

• Wind Peak vessel is one of the largest of its type in the world and can carry six full sets of components for Sofia’s 14-megawatt (MW) wind turbines
• Wind Peak is one of the first of a number of new vessels that Cadeler has manufactured for the wind industry
• Due to commence the installation of the wind turbines on the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm project in spring 2025

The vessel which will install all 100 of Sofia’s wind turbines is currently preparing to join the project, and will arrive in the coming days.

Its arrival precedes the next major milestone for RWE’s Sofia Offshore Wind Farm; the installation of the first turbine.

Manufactured by Cadeler, the vessel is currently the biggest of their type being installed on large scale projects in the world. It is the first of a number of new vessels Cadeler has manufactured for the wind industry.

At 200 metres long and 60 metres wide, when fully loaded out, the Wind Peak will carry six of the 14MW turbines, comprising six full tower sections, six nacelles and eighteen blades. At 108 metres long, the blades will lay across the vessel, with the blade tips extending off the port side. The on-board main crane has a maximum load capacity of 2,600 tonnes.

The vessel build began in 2021 and was under construction until its completion in the summer of 2024. In March 2024 a delegation from the Sofia project team visited the shipyard to see the vessel being made. You can watch that video here.

Senior project manager at RWE, Jonathan Grigg, said: “What we’re seeing here is at the forefront of new offshore wind construction with the size of these vessels. 

“The offshore stage of Sofia is one of our most ambitious and challenging yet. The scale of the wind farm and the complexities of delivering it so far offshore makes it a unique project worldwide."

Commenting on Wind Peak’s much-anticipated arrival in Europe, Jake Hain, wind turbine generator package manager, said: “The vessel is critical to the progress of the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm project, uniquely designed to carry six turbines 220km offshore, an increased capacity on conventional vessels. This significantly reduces transit time and improves efficiency. Equipped with a large crane, the vessel can install turbines of this scale swiftly and safely, setting a new standard for offshore wind projects.”

Jake added: “We’ve been planning this for years to coincide with the wider operation. The manufacturing programme and the delivery schedule aligns perfectly with our installation timeframe for the Sofia project - it’s really good news.”

The Wind Peak is set to arrive in Hull in March 2025, ready to commence the installation of the wind turbines on the Sofia project. Sofia is set to become one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world, and on course to supply the UK with renewable energy in 2026.