The Greece-based subsea and offshore service provider Asso.subsea has confirmed that it has signed a shipbuilding contract for Andromeda, the next-generation trenching support vessel and sister ship to Avra.

The contract was signed following the company’s declaration of an option included in the original shipbuilding agreement for the Avra with China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) Shenzhen Shipyard.

Andromeda will be built at the same shipyard site as Avra and Asso.subsea’s new cable laying vessel, Althea.

The delivery of Andromeda is planned for the second quarter of 2028.

With identical technical specifications to Avra, Andromeda will have 24MW hybrid power, a double-redundant DP-2 configuration, extensive deck machinery, a 4,000t under-deck cable carousel and twin working decks, and will be able to execute demanding trenching, ploughing and subsea intervention campaigns.

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