Portuguese 
Two new T-class vessels from Cadeler will receive integrated propulsion, power, automation, and dynamic positioning systems from Kongsberg to install larger offshore wind turbines and foundations, with deliveries expected in 2030 and 2031.
The contract was announced on September 3 and will be executed in cooperation with the COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard, responsible for constructing the two vessels.
Cadeler ordered the vessels in August as part of its long-term expansion. The goal is to support offshore wind farms that use increasingly larger, heavier, and more complex components.
Kongsberg did not disclose the value of the package. However, it confirmed that it will deliver thrusters, power generation and distribution, drives, automation, control, and energy management.
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Integration is important because an installation vessel needs to operate as a stable industrial platform. During lifting, small positional variations can compromise alignment and safety.
Dynamic positioning keeps the vessel over the installation point
The dynamic positioning system combines satellites, motion sensors, wind, and current data. Computers calculate corrections and command thrusters to limit the vessel’s displacement.
In an offshore installation, the foundation and tower must find defined points on the seabed. Accuracy reduces unexpected loads on the crane and suspended parts.
Kongsberg will provide azimuth and tunnel thrusters. The former rotate to apply force in different directions; the latter assist in moving the bow or stern laterally.
The control system needs to distribute power between propulsion and onboard equipment. A gust can require an immediate response while cranes, pumps, and auxiliary systems are already consuming power.
Therefore, generation, distribution, and management are included in the same package. Components designed together reduce interface conflicts and facilitate diagnostics during operation.
Automation turns various machines into a single platform
A vessel of this type integrates the bridge, engine room, thrusters, crane, legs, and electrical systems. Each subsystem has its own controls, but decisions need to communicate.
Integrated automation offers the crew a common view of alarms, loads, and availability. Operators can monitor energy and position without consulting isolated screens from each supplier.
Propulsion drives regulate electric motors precisely. This improves response and prevents applying more power than necessary when the sea allows stable conditions.
Energy management also helps reduce consumption and emissions. Generator engines can operate close to efficient ranges while the system connects or disconnects units based on demand.
The announcement does not present a percentage fuel savings. Thus, the confirmed benefit is the design aimed at efficiency, not a quantified reduction in real operations.
Larger turbines change the scale of offshore work
The power of offshore turbines has increased, leading to larger blades, nacelles, towers, and foundations. This reduces the number of machines per farm but requires more capable vessels.
Deck, stability, lift height, and crane capacity need to keep pace with growth. A limited vessel may be excluded from tenders even before the end of its structural lifespan.
The T-class vessels were designed to meet this next generation’s needs. Cadeler aims to ensure availability of its fleet when projects planned for the end of the decade reach the construction phase.
Deliveries in 2030 and 2031 reflect the necessary lead time. Designing, manufacturing modules, integrating equipment, and testing a specialized unit takes several years.
The order also carries market risk. If projects are delayed, the vessel may need to seek work in a different environment than anticipated when the contract was signed.
Chinese construction combines Norwegian technology and Danish operation
The COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong will construct the vessels. Norway’s Kongsberg will provide the integrated package, while Cadeler will operate the fleet from its international structure.
This chain distributes responsibilities across countries and companies. Documentation, class standards, and interfaces need to be managed so that equipment arrives on time.
Kongsberg is already involved in other Cadeler projects conducted with the same shipyard. Repeating the partnership reduces the learning curve and allows for the reuse of tested standards.
This does not eliminate adjustments. Each vessel has its own requirements, and technologies must keep pace with regulatory changes that may occur before 2030.
The manufacturer reports that over 30,000 vessels use its systems. This number encompasses various segments and serves as a scale for the installed base, not as a fleet comparable to the T-class.
The contract prepares capacity before demand peaks
Offshore wind farms depend on weather windows, support ports, and specialized vessels. The absence of any one of these components can delay the entire installation sequence.
By ordering now, Cadeler secures capacity for the next decade. The company believes that larger wind turbines will continue to require platforms with precise control and extended reach.
For Kongsberg, providing the complete system increases responsibility. An integration failure can affect more functions, but a common package also simplifies support and updates.
The T-class vessels from Cadeler still exist as projects under construction. The contract dated September 3 defines a critical part of how they will maneuver, maintain position, and manage energy.
When delivered in 2030 and 2031, their performance will help determine if the maritime industry has kept pace with the growth of the turbines it needs to install.
The availability of these vessels also influences the final energy price. If few assets compete for many campaigns in the same weather window, day rates and delay risks can increase. A larger fleet creates competition, but only if there are enough projects to keep such specialized vessels working.
Until delivery, Cadeler, COSCO, and Kongsberg will need to transform the contracted package into sea-tested systems, with crews prepared to operate interdependent equipment.
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