Pharos Offshore expands subsea fleet by adding UTV620 jet trencher
Pharos Offshore Group Ltd recently expanded their subsea trenching fleet with the acquisition of Soil Machine Dynamics SMD's UTV620 jet trencher, originally constructed under CT1 name, from Soil Machine Dynamics SMD and previously known by its acronym UTV620. Pharos said their acquisition responds to increasing demand for seabed intervention and cable protection services across offshore wind, subsea telecoms and wider offshore energy markets.The deal further solidifies Pharos' position as a specialist provider of pipeline and cable installation support, burial & protection services across shallow and deeper waters environments.
UTV620 was specifically engineered for jet trenching operations to accommodate subsea power cables and pipelines, providing post lay burial protection across a range of soil conditions. Equipped with 620 horsepower installed, this vehicle provides high productivity trenching operations while seamlessly integrating with modern survey and tracking packages for precise burial documentation and as-laid requirements.This acquisition adds depth trenching capabilities to our companys existing portfolio of trenching and seabed intervention assets such as Q1000 jet trenching ROV, UTV400 trenching ROVs as well cable pipe grabs pre lay grapnels systems controlled flow excavation tools as well as intelligent mattress deployment systems.
Pharos Offshore recently reported that its UTV620 unit is currently undergoing upgrades and system enhancements in preparation for its first deployment, scheduled for December 2025. These modifications include updates to control and monitoring systems as well as integration into existing procedures aimed at optimising reliability across various soil conditions and burial specifications. Pharos has indicated that it plans on mobilizing this vehicle on one project within their global subsea portfolio without specifying its end client or contract name
Strategic Response to Increase in Offshore Cable and Pipeline Demand
Pharos Offshore described its UTV620 purchase as an investment that aligned with their expansion in offshore wind capacity, interconnector cables and export systems for large scale renewable projects as well as ongoing subsea telecoms and conventional energy projects. Forecasts in the offshore power cable installation sector point towards continued activity over the medium term, driven by utility scale wind farms connecting to grid infrastructure as well as cross-border interconnectors - further driving demand for trenching and cable protection services. Pharos Offshore plans on expanding its trenching fleet to increase their capabilities in providing comprehensive seabed intervention support, from pre lay route preparation and cable lay support through post lay burial, survey, and remedial works.
The company stated that its expanded fleet capacity will enable it to provide complete cable and pipeline protection solutions from initial engineering, feasibility and as-built verification through to offshore execution and verification of completed projects. Pharos has expanded their fleet with UTV620, Q1000, and UTV400 trenching ROVs to meet project requirements, soil profiles and water depths, providing redundancy and scheduling flexibility to developers, EPC contractors and cable installation firms alike. Pharos' global operating footprint includes recent campaigns reported from regions including Red Sea, Far East and European waters.
Phil Walker, chief executive officer of Pharos Offshore Group, noted the purchase of UTV620 represents not only an expansion of Pharos' fleet but also an exciting period of growth and potential for the business. Walker explained this investment demonstrates a commitment to strengthening Pharos' subsea offering by investing in engineering support, asset management and offshore personnel while simultaneously increasing service quality levels globally for clients worldwide. His emphasis on service quality can be seen through Pharos' focus on engineering support, asset management and offshore personnel; areas which has driven Pharos from being purely specialist manning agency to full service subsea contractor with rental assets as well as owned assets from rental.
Integration with current trenching and seabed intervention portfolio
Pharos Offshore expects that adding UTV620 to their fleet will enable them to tailor trenching and burial solutions more precisely to specific route conditions, cable designs, and regulatory requirements. For export and inter array cables in offshore wind projects, our company can utilize jet trenching with UTV620 or Q1000 vehicles coupled with controlled flow excavation, grapnel operations and grapnel trenches for both initial installation and ongoing integrity management. For pipeline projects, the expanded fleet provides additional options for post lay trenching in both soft and compacted soil conditions - helping operators and contractors meet target burial depths and protection criteria established by regulators, insurers and project financiers.
Pharos Offshore stresses the value of having multiple jet trenching assets for project risk management purposes, enabling maintenance and upgrades outside peak campaign windows and offering alternative spread options in case of vessel or asset unavailability. In keeping with wider industry trends toward digitization and more in-depth project performance evaluation, Trench Tech continues to invest in remote operations capabilities, data acquisition tools and online monitoring tools for its trenching systems. As Pharos Offshore completes its current UTV620 upgrade program and begins operation, Pharos Offshore will have a modernised trenching portfolio ready to compete for cable and pipeline burial scopes in both established and emerging offshore energy markets.