Asso.subsea named buyer of Reach and Eidesvik IMR vessel
Key Takeaways
- •Asso.subsea is the buyer of the Reach Subsea and Eidesvik Offshore-owned vessel Viking Reach.
- •The acquisition includes a high-specification work-class ROV spread that adds to the vessel’s subsea work capability.
- •The transaction is expected to close in early fourth quarter 2026, after which the vessel will be renamed Arete and registered in Greece.
- •Asso.subsea plans to use the vessel as a trenching support vessel for cable protection, route preparation, and post-lay burial work.
- •The purchase follows Asso.subsea’s recent orders for the Avra and Andromeda TSV newbuilds, expanding its subsea cable installation fleet.
Greek offshore contractor Asso.subsea has been revealed as the buyer of the Reach Subsea and Eidesvik Offshore-owned IMR vessel Viking Reach.
Eidesvik and Reach Subsea previously said the acquisition also includes a high-specification work-class ROV (WROV) spread, adding to the vessel’s subsea work capability beyond its core IMR role.
Completion of the transaction is expected in early fourth quarter 2026. Once delivered, the vessel will be renamed Arete, after Queen Arete from Greek mythology. It will be registered under the Greek flag and used as a trenching support vessel (TSV).
Asso.subsea said the vessel’s equipment makes it a highly flexible asset, suited for multiple roles in subsea cable protection, route preparation, post-lay burial, and the expanding offshore wind market, where offshore export and inter-array cable work has increased demand for specialized support tonnage.
The purchase follows Asso.subsea’s recent newbuild orders for the Avra and Andromeda TSVs. All three vessels will add to the company’s capacity and capabilities in the subsea cable installation market, which is increasingly shaped by larger cable systems and more complex installation campaigns.
“By increasing our vessel capacity and deploying our state-of-the-art subsea equipment, we continue to enhance our capability to execute complex subsea projects safely, efficiently, and to the highest industry standards,” said Eva Pavlou, commercial director at Asso.subsea.
