French shipping company Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has received an Approval in Principle (AiP) for its full liquid hydrogen-based SOV design. This level 1 AiP, delivered by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, brings the company one step closer to making this groundbreaking project a reality.
This 100% hydrogen-powered SOV will be able to operate 95% of the time with zero carbon emissions during standard operations, leading to an estimated 4,000-ton annual CO₂ reduction. Beyond the reduction of is environmental impact, the vessel is engineered for maximum efficiency and operability. It can accommodate up to 90 technicians onboard while ensuring continuous 24-hour operations. With an impressive 14-day endurance at sea, it eliminates the need for additional offshore infrastructure. Refueling is also streamlined, as bunkering can be completed in just six hours using trailers, removing the necessity for heavy port facilities.
“we believe in developing purpose-built SOVs tailored to specific projects and needs,” said LDA, “We are already offering alternative fuel options such as full electric and dual-fuel methanol, and we firmly believe that hydrogen will be one of the options in the near future. This Approval in Principle represents a key step toward making hydrogen-powered maritime operations a reality, reinforcing our dedication to cleaner, more efficient solutions for the offshore wind industry”.
Back in March 2024, LDA and Norwegian ship design company Salt Ship Design have jointly launched a concept design for a new hydrogen-powered SOV. At that time LDA said that hydrogen fuel was one of the key factors in reducing the impact of shipping in the coming years, helping to meet challenging carbon emission targets across the industry.