General – Newbuilding
Asso.subsea announced the signing of the shipbuilding contract for the Andromeda, its next-generation trenching support vessel.
The contract was signed following Asso.subsea’s declaration of an option included in the original shipbuilding agreement for the Avra, further strengthening its strategic partnership with China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) Shenzhen Shipyard.
Andromeda will be built at the same shipyard site alongside the Avra and cable laying vessel, Althea. Delivery of Andromeda is planned for Q2 2028.
With identical technical specifications to Avra, Andromeda represents a deliberate capacity expansion strategy. Designed as a double-redundant DP-2 vessel with a record-breaking 24 MW of installed hybrid power, she ranks among the most powerful Trenching Support Vessels ever constructed.
Purpose-built to execute the most demanding trenching, ploughing, and subsea intervention campaigns, Andromeda enables the simultaneous deployment of two advanced 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 4,000t under-deck cable carousel, she offers exceptional operational flexibility across dynamic cable spreads, floating wind installations, inter-array, and export cable campaigns.
