RoRo to Transport Airbus Components is Fitted with Six Rotor Sails
The Spirit of Toulouse, the first of three pioneering RoRos with wind-assisted propulsion, marked a milestone in its construction with the installation of its six wind rotors. The vessel, which is being built in China, becomes not only the largest RoRo vessel to be equipped with wind-assisted propulsion, but also has the largest number of mechanical sails fitted on a single vessel.
"Spirit of Toulouse is much more than a new vessel. It is a tangible demonstration of how the maritime industry can accelerate its transition by combining innovation, operational expertise, and strong industrial partnerships,” said Samira Draoua, CEO of LD Armateurs, the owners of the vessels.
The vessel, which is 19,000 gross tons, is being fitted with six Norsepower Rotor Sails. The six rotor sails each measure 35 meters by 5 meters (approximately 115 feet by 16.4 feet), and they are being paired with two dual-fuel main engines and two dual-fuel generator sets, capable of running on e-methanol, bio-methanol, or marine diesel oil. LD Armateurs, which is building the vessel for charter to Airbus, expects each vessel to deliver a 70 percent decrease in CO2 emissions, on an annual basis, compared with the two vessels it currently operates on the Atlantic for Airbus.
Each of the ships has an overall length of approximately 168 meters (551 feet) and will be 5,300 dwt. They will have a service speed of 14 knots. The ships will be registered in France.
Spirit of Toulouse is the largest RoRo with wind-assisted propulsion and has the largest number of mechanical sails on a vessel (LD Armateurs)
“Completing installation of six Norsepower Rotor Sails on Spirit of Toulouse is a significant milestone for wind propulsion in the RoRo segment,” said Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower. Wind-assisted propulsion continues to gain momentum with adoption ranging from tankers to bulkers and more RoRos and cruise ships.
The companies note that fitting six rotors to a single hull is a demanding undertaking. Commissioning activities commenced immediately following the installation of the first rotor sail. With all sails installed, the rotor sails will undergo comprehensive testing during the vessel's upcoming sea trials to confirm their performance and integration with onboard systems. Further optimization and fine-tuning will continue during the maiden voyage from China to France.
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The project for these pioneering ships began in 2024 with construction at the Wuchang Shipyard, a division of CSSC Group in China. The hull for the Spirit of Toulouse was launched in early 2026, and in September it began the journey along the Yangtze to Shanghai. Outfitting and installation of the rotors are being completed at the yard in Shanghai.
The Spirit of Toulouse will be joined by sister ships Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel, which are also under construction in China. Operating under charter to Airbus, they will transport large aircraft sub-assemblies between Airbus’s sites in Europe and North America.
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