A significant milestone has been reached in the development of Althea, our next-generation cable-laying vessel; in a ceremony held on Thursday at the China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) shipyard on Mazhou Island, Shenzhen, the vessel’s keel was laid.
The keel laying marks the official commencement of hull assembly and represents a critical step toward the delivery of a purpose-built asset designed to support complex subsea cable installation projects across the offshore energy sector.
Althea has been developed to significantly enhance operational capabilities, incorporating advanced cable-laying systems, high-capacity cable storage, and optimized dynamic positioning (DP-2) to ensure precision and efficiency in demanding offshore environments. The vessel will be fully equipped to support a wide range of installation and burial activities, reinforcing the company’s ability to deliver integrated subsea solutions. Delivery is scheduled for 2027.
Our Executive Director of Marine Technology, Ioannis Togias commented: “As we mark the keel laying of Althea, we take a decisive step forward in strengthening our fleet and technical capabilities. This vessel reflects our long-term vision to meet the evolving demands of the offshore energy market with reliability and precision.”
The development of Althea underscores the company’s continued investment in innovation and its long-term commitment to supporting the global energy transition and safe offshore operations. Further updates on the vessel’s construction progress will be shared in the coming months.
