First “eco” RoRo newbuild for Airbus launched
The French shipping company Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has launched the “Spirit of Toulouse”, the first of three newly developed low-emission RoRo vessels intended for Airbus transportation.
The ship has now been launched at the CSSC Group’s Wuchang shipyard in China. Two further units in the “Spirit of Mobile” and “Spirit of Mirabel” series are also currently under construction. The newbuilds, each 168 m long and 23.32 m wide, are specially designed to transport aircraft components for the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The aim is to significantly reduce emissions and increase transport capacity at the same time.
Wind support and dual-fuel drive
At the heart of the drive concept are six rotor sails, each 35 m high, from technology manufacturer Norsepower, which use wind power to support propulsion. The system is supplemented by two dual-fuel main engines that can be operated with both bio-methanol and marine diesel oil. There are also plans to use alternative fuels such as hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVO) or e-methanol in the future.
A comprehensive approach to reducing CO₂ emissions was already pursued during the design phase. This includes highly efficient propeller and shaft systems made from recycled steel, particularly low-friction antifouling coatings and an intelligent energy management and heat recovery system.
In addition, modern route optimization programs are used that take weather and sea conditions into account in order to maximize wind support and minimize resistance. An AI-supported control system continuously adapts the ship’s operation to the respective environmental conditions and optimizes the aerodynamic properties specifically for the ship.
Significant CO₂ savings expected
Compared to the previous generation of the Airbus RoRo fleet, the new ships are expected to achieve a CO₂ reduction of around 70% per year. At fleet level, LDA anticipates a reduction in average annual transatlantic emissions of around 50% compared to 2023, despite increasing transport volumes.
The “Spirit of Toulouse” and its sister ships reach a top speed of 14 knots and have a transport capacity equivalent to that of the previous flagship “Ville de Bordeaux”. This means that the logistical capacity for aircraft transportation remains as high as ever.
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