Orsted Advances Offshore Wind Construction at Sunrise Wind and Revolution Wind
Orsted has reported further progress at its United States projects, with subsea cable installation now taking place at both Sunrise Wind and Revolution Wind sites off of the East Coast. They completed foundation installation work at Sunrise Wind before transitioning installation spreads towards export/inter array cable work at both leases.
This latest campaign comes after months of schedule resetting and contract renegotiations across the US offshore wind sector, but cable installation is an essential element to securing first power from both projects. Installation requires dedicated construction vessels deploying for seabed preparation, laying, burial and protection works across their wind farm footprints as well as their export corridors back to shore.
These works are being carried out under an expansive regulatory and permitting regime overseen by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and other federal and state agencies, reflecting an increasingly complex relationship among developers, marine contractors and regulators in US waters.
Damen and Windcat Launch New Offshore Multi Purpose Accommodation Support Vessel Series
Windcat and Damen Shipyards Group announced at the Offshore Energy Conference on 25 November that they have joined forces to create a new class of offshore construction support tonnage that is tailored for long-term energy campaigns. At that event, Windcat signed an agreement for one Multi Purpose Accommodation Support Vessel with options to purchase up to five more vessels of this type from Damen.
The Innovation Series vessel type from Damen is based on their proven Commissioning Service Operations Vessel platform but scaled up to 102 metres long and 20 metres in beam. The ship combines an open working deck of approximately 750 square metres, subsea crane, extensive accommodation and comprehensive safety provisions that enable construction support, maintenance, walk to work roles as well as walk to work roles for offshore wind energy and other offshore energy projects.
Damen plans to begin construction of its first vessel at Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam in 2026, with delivery scheduled for 2028. Its design focuses on fuel efficient operations and enhanced comfort for personnel deployed offshore for extended periods, reflecting an industry trend towards specialist construction and service tonnage designed specifically to support complex offshore campaigns.
MacGregor Secures Order for Next Generation Construction Support Offshore Vessel Crane
MacGregor recently received an order for its newly developed 165 tonne active heave compensated crane, to be installed aboard a Construction Support Offshore Vessel being built at Hong Hua Yard in China. This contract, announced 25 November 2025 and scheduled to be fulfilled by second quarter of 2027 will include an option for additional crane delivery.
MacGregor says its lightweight crane design offers greater lifting capacity for its weight compared to typical 150-tonne class offshore cranes, giving operators an edge on deck load and offshore handling performance. Furthermore, this system is tailored specifically towards subsea construction support tasks which may involve dynamic sea states as well.
Hong Hua's order highlights Asia's continued investment in high-spec offshore construction equipment despite many developers and contractors reassessing project economics, while reflecting how yards like Hong Hua are expanding their newbuild portfolios with construction support tonnage capable of meeting wind, oil and gas and marine infrastructure projects.
A Floating Offshore Wind Construction Pipeline will be highlighted at November 2025's Wind Expo 2025.
RenewableUK's November 2025 EnergyPulse report offers context for current and upcoming offshore construction activity related to floating wind energy. The analysis notes that 93 megawatts of floating capacity is currently under construction worldwide, as well as 277 megawatts already operational across 16 projects in seven countries; by 2030 it is projected that nearly 2.5 gigawatts could be in operation worldwide.
At present, China and the UK dominate construction activity, but this report also includes construction activity from France, Norway and Japan. By 2025 floating projects under development include additional capacity off France; Japan's long delayed Goto project; and an anticipated large single turbine unit from China set to become one of the largest completed floating turbines globally
Although these schemes vary in their stages from commissioning to full scale construction, they each demonstrate the increasing role of floating structures in offshore construction portfolios. Developers, fabricators and marine contractors are adapting installation methodologies, mooring solutions and cable protection strategies for deeper water environments as well as novel platform architectures with lessons learned on early projects expected to shape commercial-scale floating wind farms in coming years.