Logistics group Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has signed an MoU with airship manufacturer Flying Whales to incorporate the LCA60T airship solution into its freight forwarding activities.
LCA60T is an airship concept lifted by 180,000 cu m of helium with a payload of 60 tonnes. It is designed to operate in remote areas where roads are not available, thanks to its hovering capabilities. It is also an interesting solution for oversized cargoes, which are particularly difficult to transport via common roads or railways. With a length of 200 m and a diameter of 50 m, it has a substantial payload capacity thanks to a cargo bay of 96 m in length, 8 m in height, and 7 m in width.
“Choosing to partner with Flying Whales is totally in line with the LDA’s ambition to decarbonise transport and logistics,” said Edouard Louis-Dreyfus, president of LDA. “By combining our expertise, we want to offer an innovative solution capable of solving particular issues that oversize cargoes face on the first and lasts miles of their voyage. This will be a significant benefit for customers of our maritime logistics services.”
