Asso Subsea has signed a shipbuilding contract for Andromeda, a trenching support vessel that will serve as a sister ship to Avra.
The agreement followed the declaration of an option with China Merchants Heavy Industry Shenzhen Shipyard, where the company is also building the Althea cable laying vessel.
Asso Subsea stated delivery of the new vessel is planned for the second quarter of 2028.
Designed with identical technical specifications to Avra, Andromeda is a double-redundant DP-2 vessel featuring 24 MW of installed hybrid power. The company claimed the ship is among "the most powerful trenching support vessels ever constructed".
The vessel is designed for trenching, ploughing, and subsea intervention campaigns and can deploy two trenching vehicles simultaneously. It also features twin working decks and is prepared for a 4,000-tonne under-deck cable carousel.
Executive Director of Marine Technology Ioannis Togias noted the contract reflects a response to demand for high-performance trenching solutions.
“By declaring this first option and introducing a second vessel with identical capabilities to Avra, we ensure operational flexibility and parallel deployment options for our clients worldwide,” Togias explained.