Asso.subsea to build another high-spec trenching support vessel

The contract for Andromeda, which will be a sister vessel to Avra, a unit of the same type that the company already has under construction, was signed following the company’s declaration of an option in the agreement for Avra with China Merchants Heavy Industry’s Shenzhen Shipyard.

Andromeda will therefore be built at the same yard as Avra and Asso.subsea’s new cable-lay vessel, Althea. Delivery of Andromeda is planned for Q2 2028.

With identical technical specifications to Avra, Andromeda is a DP2 vessel with what the Greek owner describes as “a record-breaking 24 MW of installed hybrid power,” which makes the vessel one of the most powerful trenching support vessels to be constructed.

Purpose-built to execute demanding trenching, ploughing and subsea intervention campaigns, Andromeda will be able to simultaneously deploy two trenching vehicles, even in challenging offshore conditions, significantly enhancing project efficiency and schedule certainty.

With twin working decks, extensive deck machinery and prepared for a 4,000-tonne under-deck cable carousel, the vessel will be highly flexible, and capable of work in the floating offshore wind, inter-array and export cable segments.

When the contract for Avra was signed, the Greek owner said the vessel would have a bollard pull of in excess of 180 tonnes, and be prepared for operation on methanol and biofuel. The company said the trenching vessel would also have a large battery-hybrid system and cold-ironing capability, a wide-ranging suite of deck machinery, including a 150-tonne offshore/subsea crane and dual heavy-duty A-frames.

Asso.subsea executive director of marine technology Ioannis Togias said, “Signing the contract for construction of Andromeda reflects our proactive response to accelerating demand for high-performance trenching solutions.

“By declaring this first option and introducing a second vessel with identical capabilities to Avra, we will ensure operational flexibility and parallel deployment options for our clients worldwide.”