Chinese-built wind turbine installation vessel Fengsheng delivered to Danish owner
The COSCO-built vessel can install turbines rated at 20 MW and above, with a deck payload of 17,600 tonnes and a crane capable of lifting over 3,300 tonnes
A new offshore wind turbine installation vessel built in China has been delivered to a Danish shipping company, marking another step in the close cooperation between the two countries' maritime industries. The vessel, named Fengsheng, was built at a shipyard in Jiangsu Province and officially delivered in late July before departing on its maiden voyage.
Designed for the latest generation of offshore wind farms, the vessel is capable of installing turbines rated at 20 MW and above, a scale that exceeds most turbines currently in commercial operation and positions the ship for the next wave of larger offshore installations planned across Europe and Asia. It features a deck area of more than 5,600 square metres and a payload capacity of 17,600 tonnes, giving it substantial capacity to carry turbine components, foundations and associated equipment to site.
The vessel's main crane is capable of lifting more than 3,300 tonnes, a specification that reflects the growing weight of individual turbine components as manufacturers scale up capacity to improve the economics of offshore wind projects. Installation vessels of this size and lifting capacity are increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure for the industry, since a shortage of capable vessels can otherwise become a bottleneck for offshore wind developers working to meet ambitious deployment targets.
The delivery highlights China's growing role as a major shipbuilding hub for the global offshore wind industry, an area where Chinese yards have expanded rapidly in recent years alongside their traditional strengths in bulk carriers and container ships. The continued cooperation with Danish shipping companies in the renewable energy sector also reflects Denmark's long-standing position as a hub for offshore wind expertise, even as the vessels themselves are increasingly built overseas.
With offshore wind capacity continuing to expand globally, demand for specialised installation vessels capable of handling ever-larger turbines is expected to keep growing. The delivery of Fengsheng adds to a small but growing fleet of vessels worldwide equipped to install the newest generation of turbines, giving its Danish operator access to a segment of the market that remains constrained by limited vessel availability.
