China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) has started the construction of the first of two Asso.subsea’s trenching support vessels (TSVs), described as the most powerful TSV ever built.
Asso.subsea reported on 23 September that the steel-cutting ceremony was held for the TSV Avra at the CMHI Shenzhen shipyard, one year after the shipbuilding contract was announced.
This March, the partners signed the shipbuilding contract for the construction of the second TSV, named Andromeda, sister to Avra.
The vessels will have 24 MW hybrid power and over 180 tonnes bollard pull, a 4,000-tonne under-deck cable carousel capability and twin working decks and will be able to support a wide range of projects including dynamic cable spreads, floating wind installations, inter-array and export cable operations.
In the announcement for the first unit, Asso.subsea said it would be methanol- and biofuel-ready, featuring a large battery hybrid system, equipped with cold-ironing capability, and featuring a 150-tonne offshore/subsea crane and dual heavy-duty A-frames.
Avra is expected to be delivered at the end of 2027, with Andromeda following in the second quarter of 2028.
CMHI is also building Asso.subsea’s new cable-laying vessel (CLV) Althea. The keel-laying was held in April. Delivery is expected next year, when the vessel will join Ariadne and Atalanti in the company’s cable-laying fleet.