The company Cadeler has completed the refitting of its vessels Wind Ally and Wind Orca to begin a critical phase in the construction of what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Heavy logistics are being coordinated across several European ports to supply a project with a capacity of almost 3 gigawatts.
The installation of foundations by the vessels Wind Ally and Wind Orca
The Wind Ally vessel has left the Port of Rotterdam and docked at Steel River Quay in Teesworks. It has begun loading the XXL monopiles required for the turbine foundations.
This operation is particularly significant because it marks the vessel’s operational debut since its official delivery. Furthermore, its capacity to handle components of such dimensions guarantees an efficiency that few players in the market can currently offer.
At another strategic location, the Wind Orca has completed its maintenance and technical preparation work. This vessel followed a logistical route that included the ports of Esbjerg and Odense before arriving at the Port of Tyne.
From this latter point, it will operate as the loading base for the secondary steel of the infrastructure. The coordination of these two units will allow Cadeler to cover the entire spectrum of transport and assembly of structures for the next full year.
It is also worth remembering the scale of what Ørsted is building in British waters. The Hornsea 3 wind farm will supply renewable energy to more than 3.3 million homes in the UK once its 197 turbines are operational.
The current deployment of naval assets is proof that the transition to clean energy sources depends entirely on a robust supply chain and new generation vessels capable of withstanding extreme loads under demanding marine conditions.
Source and photo: Cadeler