Greek offshore contractor Asso.subsea has signed a deal with China Merchants Heavy Industry’s Shenzhen yard for the construction of a new trenching support vessel (TSV).
Named Avra, the vessel, due for delivery at the end of 2027, is being billed as the most powerful purpose-built TSV to date, with 24 MW of installed hybrid power and more than 180 tonnes of bollard pull.
The newbuild is designed primarily for trenching operations in floating wind and subsea cable markets but will also be equipped for cable laying and repair work, the company said. It will be fit to operate two trenching vehicles at once, even in harsh weather, a capability the owner said will speed up project execution and improve reliability.
The ship will carry a 4,000-tonne underdeck cable carousel, twin working decks, a 150-tonne offshore crane and dual A-frames to support a broad range of subsea energy tasks. The design is methanol- and biofuel-ready, fitted with battery hybrid systems and cold-ironing to cut emissions.
The order follows Asso.subsea’s earlier fleet investment in the new cable layer Althea for delivery also in 2027.
“The contract signing for the construction of the Avra is a strategic milestone,” said Ioannis Togias, executive director of marine technology at Asso.subsea, adding that the vessel has been designed to give the company’s clients “a clear advantage in efficiency and project execution.”
