Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has confirmed the selection of Norway's Salt Ship Design as the naval architect and China's Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) as the shipyard for the construction of its new purpose-built service operation vessels (SOVs).
Salt Ship Design had also designed the two earlier SOVs Wind of Change and Wind of Hope, which LDA acquired in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
The new SOVs will each feature four azimuthing thrusters, a dynamic positioning system, an advanced gangway system, and a 3D motion-compensated crane. Special attention has also been given to technicians' and crew's comfort to ensure that vessels may also be employed as high-standard floating hotels.
Construction will take place at ZPMC's facilities in China, though the SOVs will also be fitted with European components including the gangway system, the DP system, and key propulsion line systems.
The SOVs will be operated in support of the activities of Swedish energy company Vattenfall.