Greek offshore contractor Asso.subsea has signed a contract with China Merchants Heavy Industry (Shenzhen) for the construction of a new trenching support vessel (TSV) named Avra, scheduled for delivery in late 2027.
Avra is being positioned as the most powerful specialized TSV built to date, featuring a 24 MW hybrid power systemand a bollard pull of more than 180 tons.
The vessel is designed primarily for trenching operations in the offshore wind and subsea cable markets, but will also be equipped for cable laying and repair. According to the company, Avra will be capable of operating two trenchers simultaneously, even in harsh weather conditions, which will accelerate project execution and improve reliability.
Key features include:
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a below-deck cable carousel with 4,000-ton capacity,
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two working decks,
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a 150-ton offshore crane,
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two A-frames for a wide range of subsea operations.
The vessel will be methanol- and biofuel-ready, equipped with hybrid battery systems and a cold ironing setup to significantly reduce emissions.
This order follows Asso.subsea’s earlier investment in the new cable layer Althea, also scheduled for delivery in 2027.
“Signing the contract for Avra marks a strategic milestone,” said Ioannis Togias, Executive Director of Marine Technology at Asso.subsea. “The vessel is designed to give our clients a clear edge in efficiency and project execution.”
