AbstractThe laser beam submerged arc hybrid welding method originates from the knowledge that, with increasing penetration depth, the laser beam process has a tendency to pore formation in the lower weld regions. The combination with the energy efficient submerged arc process improves the degassing and reduces the tendency to pore formation. The high deposition rate of the SA process in combination with the laser beam process offers, providing the appropriate choice of weld preparation, the possibility of welding plates with a thickness larger than 20mm in a single pass, and also of welding thicker plates with the double sided single pass technique.