Aventa expands operations with Irish Sea Contractors purchase

French engineering and offshore services group Aventa has snapped up Irish Sea Contractors (ISC) in a deal that will add a raft of capabilities to the company and give it a bridge to the Irish market.

ISC has been operating in the marine civil engineering, commercial diving, subsea cable work and port infrastructure maintenance sectors for more than 40 years and Aventa highlighted landfall works, diving, marine operations, port maintenance and subsea cable activities as new areas coming on board.

The combined offering is intended to give clients greater continuity between project design and delivery, allowing engineering decisions to take better account of installation methods, site conditions and the practical demands of offshore work.

ISC, based in County Wexford, Ireland, has delivered fibre-optic and power cable projects in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. Its work includes cable landfalls and pull-ins, nearshore installation, burial, protection and remedial works. Its marine civil engineering and diving teams also undertake construction, inspection, repair and maintenance for ports, harbours and other marine infrastructure.

ISC’s experience also extends to offshore energy services and specialist subsea engineering.

“We are entering a new chapter in Marine Operations and this acquisition is not simply about adding a company to Aventa,” said the announcement.

“This acquisition brings our marine civil engineering, diving, and subsea cable delivery experience together with Aventa’s engineering, consulting and offshore capabilities, strengthening what we can offer our clients across landfall works, diving, marine operations, port maintenance and subsea cable projects,” said ISC.

The deal also brings ISC’s AERSUB subsea cable repair system into Aventa’s portfolio. Developed by ISC, AERSUB is designed to allow cable jointing to take place on the seabed without recovering the cable to a vessel’s deck, avoiding the need for some heavy-lift and deck-handling operations. This could be useful for offshore wind farms, interconnectors and other subsea power infrastructure, where cable faults can be complex and costly marine operations.

ISC will keep its name and leadership, with Wexford remaining the centre of its marine delivery activities. Managing director Áine Kinsella will continue to lead ISC and will also head Aventa’s expanded Operations business unit.

“Joining Aventa gives us the backing to develop our subsea cable capability and pursue larger projects, while preserving the experience, relationships and practical approach our clients know us for,” she said.