Six Rotor Sails installed on Airbus RoRo vessel

LD Armateurs and Norsepower have completed installation of six rotor sails on board Spirit of Toulouse, a new low-emission RoRo vessel built to transport aircraft components for Airbus across the Atlantic.

The installation at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group’s coastal outfitting site in Shanghai makes the vessel the world’s largest RoRo ship equipped with wind propulsion and the first to carry six mechanical sails, according to the companies.

“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, chief executive of LD Armateurs.

Each of the six Norsepower Rotor Sails measures 35 metres high and five metres in diameter. The technology is designed to harness wind power to reduce propulsion demand, working alongside two dual-fuel main engines and two dual-fuel generator sets capable of operating on e-methanol, bio-methanol or marine diesel oil.

The vessel is the lead ship in a three-ship fleet that also includes Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel. All three ships are intended to operate under charter to Airbus, transporting large aircraft sub-assemblies between production sites in Europe and North America.

Norsepower chief executive Heikki Pöntynen said the installation marked a significant milestone for wind propulsion in the RoRo sector, with the combined technologies designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from the vessel’s first voyage.

Installation followed the companies’ collaboration announcement in early 2024, with construction beginning later that year and the lead vessel launching in February 2026.

Commissioning has begun, with comprehensive testing planned during upcoming sea trials to verify rotor sail performance and integration with onboard systems. Further optimisation is expected during the maiden voyage from China to France.