LDA has been granted an AiP for its H2-powered SOV design

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has received an Approval in Principle (AiP) for its full liquid hydrogen-based SOV design. The Level 1 AiP was given by Bureau Veritas Marine& Offshore. This brings the groundbreaking Service Operation Vessel (SOV) design closer to 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. 

LDA introduced the hydrogen SOV concept design back in March 2024, in cooperation with Norwegian naval architecture company Salt Ship.

“We believe in developing purpose-built SOVs tailored to specific projects and needs. We are already offering alternative fuel options such as full electric and dual-fuel methanol. We firmly believe that hydrogen will be one of the options in the near future. This AiP represents a key step in making hydrogen-powered maritime operations a reality,” said LDA.