Greece’s Asso.subsea has reported it was purchasing the inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) vessel Viking Reach from the joint venture of Reach Subsea and Eidesvik Offshore, following the sale announcement from earlier today.
It was reported today, August 4, that Eidesvik Reach, in which Eidesvik holds a 50.1% ownership interest and Reach Subsea 49.9%, had entered into a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with an undisclosed buyer for the sale of the 2009-built, 85-meter-long vessel.
Asso.subsea is expanding its fleet with the addition of Viking Reach, which will, upon delivery, be renamed Arete, honoring Queen Arete of Greek mythology. The acquisition also includes a work-class remotely operated vehicle (WROV) spread.
The vessel will hoist the Greek flag and will join Asso Group’s expanding fleet for primary use as a trenching support vessel (TSV) to sustain the group’s heavy project backlog in the coming years, the Greek firm said.
With its high-capacity subsea equipment, 70-ton AHC crane, integrated WROV and survey spreads, shallow water capability and extensive deck area, Arete is described as “an extremely flexible asset” , equipped for multi-purpose roles in subsea cable protection, route preparation, post-lay burial, and the offshore wind market.
Completion of the transaction is expected in early Q4 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
The move follows the recent newbuild orders of the TSVs Avra and Andromeda.
“The acquisition of TSV Arete reinforces our long-term commitment to providing top-tier trenching solutions to the offshore energy market,” said Eva Pavlou , Commercial Director at Asso.subsea. “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.”