Revolutionizing Sustainable Energy Logistics: Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Technip Energies Partner for Ammonia to Hydrogen Vessel

French maritime company Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Technip Energies, a leading technology and engineering firm in France, to collaborate on the development of an innovative ammonia storage and cracking to hydrogen vessel.

The partnership aims to enhance LDA’s FRESH solution, a cutting-edge ship-based processing and storage facility designed for low-carbon ammonia and hydrogen. This 170-meter-long vessel boasts a substantial storage capacity of 45,000 cbm for imported ammonia and utilizes an advanced cracking plant on the vessel deck to convert it into hydrogen.

By incorporating this technology, the floating, low-carbon hydrogen terminal is poised to transform sustainable energy logistics, offering a reliable and efficient solution with minimal greenhouse gas (GHG) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

FRESH will be stationed at a port for production, receiving regular supplies from ammonia carrier vessels. The cracking plant onboard converts the ammonia into gaseous hydrogen, with an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of hydrogen production at over 99.9% purity and energy efficiency exceeding 90%. The hydrogen is then compressed and offloaded to shore for continuous and on-demand supply to industries and heavy mobility sectors.

One of the key features of the vessel is its flexibility to relocate based on hydrogen demand, ensuring optimal utilization of resources. Technip Energies will integrate its high-energy efficiency ammonia cracking technology into the FRESH solution, while LDA will oversee the hull design, construction, and operational management of the vessel.

“This partnership with Technip Energies represents a significant milestone in our quest to operate a floating low-carbon hydrogen terminal. By leveraging their expertise in ammonia cracking technology, we are advancing towards a sustainable and efficient solution while maintaining low emissions,” stated Mathieu Muzeau, Transport & Logistics Managing Director at LDA.

The MoU was formalized in April 2025, marking the commencement of a collaborative effort between Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Technip Energies to drive innovation in the realm of sustainable energy logistics.