Socarenam in Boulogne has begun construction of the BibbyAthena which is due to hit the water in late 2014.
The vessel will be a sistership to the Bibby Tethrawhich was launched in 2011 and has proved popular with key clients, theLiverpool-based seabed surveyor said in a statement.
No price was revealed for the contract but a spokesperson described it as a "multi-million pound project".
The
