Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA), a 170-year-old French family-owned maritime company, has announced a strategic investment in its offshore fleet with an order for three next-generation Service Operation Vessels (SOVs). These vessels will build upon five years of experience operating some of the world’s first hybrid-electric SOVs.
Gaël Callo, Managing Director of Renewable Energy at LDA, discusses the company’s shift toward offshore wind support, the lessons learned from their earlier vessels, and how those insights are shaping the design and functionality of the new fleet.
Over the past five years, LDA has undergone a significant transformation—moving away from its traditional dry cargo business and focusing on specialized services such as aircraft component transport, subsea cable installation, and offshore energy support. Today, LDA operates a fleet of over 100 vessels, with 23 sailing under the French flag, and employs more than 3,000 people worldwide.
“In logistics and cable operations, we’ve seen major growth,” said Callo. “We’ve added four new vessels for cable installation since 2019 and are doubling our RoRo fleet. In offshore wind, we secured a major contract with Vattenfall for up to three new SOVs to complement our existing vessels serving Ørsted.”
The new SOVs are designed for the demanding conditions of the North Sea, featuring enhanced comfort, optimized workspaces for technicians, and state-of-the-art energy efficiency systems. Key innovations include refined crew workflows, upgraded electric systems, and improved seakeeping performance based on real operational data.
As global offshore wind capacity in Europe is expected to quadruple by 2030—from 40 GW to 140 GW—LDA sees growing demand for SOVs as a core driver of its fleet expansion. In tandem with fleet growth, decarbonization remains a top priority. LDA is exploring fully electric, e-methanol, and other alternative fuels to meet rising sustainability demands.
One flagship project showcasing LDA’s capabilities is the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm in France, where the company managed inter-array cable installation and now operates three Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) supporting GE and EDF.
LDA’s ambitions were further fueled in February 2024, when InfraVia acquired an 80% stake in the company, enabling a €1 billion investment plan to double its fleet and drive innovation. “We are entering a new era of growth,” Callo concluded, “developing the maritime services of the future with cutting-edge technologies and a strong commitment to the energy transition.”
