LD Armateurs Launches Spirit of Toulouse, First of Three Low‑Emission RoRo Vessels Chartered to Airbus

LD Armateurs is set to welcome the first ship of its next generation RoRo vessels chartered to Airbus. The Spirit of Toulouse was launched last week at Wuchang Shipyard (CSSC Group). Two other vessels – Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel – are under construction. 

The new low-emission vessels, which will be used to ship aircraft components for Airbus, will each be powered by a combination of six 35-meter tall Norsepower Rotor Sails and two dual- fuel engines capable of running on e-/bio-methanol or marine diesel oil.  

From the outset, these vessels have been designed to minimize CO2 emissions, employing a holistic approach. They include efficient propellers and shafts produced from recycled steel, very low-friction anti-fouling coatings, a smart power management system, and a heat conversion system. Equipped with routing software to optimize their routes, they will be able to maximize wind propulsion and minimize drag from adverse ocean conditions. This is further improved using an advanced AI-powered control solution which enables the vessels to adapt to changing external weather and sea conditions and achieve vessel-specific aerodynamic optimization. Together, these innovations will result in state-of-the-art vessels that combine cutting-edge technology to achieve ambitious environmental goals. 

Each vessel in the new fleet is expected to deliver a 70% decrease in CO₂ emissions, on a yearly basis, compared with the previous generation of ships. LDA currently operates two vessels on the transatlantic route for Airbus, including the Ville de Bordeaux, the largest of the fleet, with a cargo capacity equivalent to six aircraft. The new vessels — Spirit of Toulouse, Spirit of Mobile, and Spirit of Mirabel — will match this cargo capacity. Further emission reductions could be achieved using low-carbon alternative fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or e-methanol. 

At fleet level, considering an increase in overall capacity, the introduction of the new vessels is expected to reduce average annual transatlantic CO₂ emissions by approximately 50% compared with 2023, while supporting higher transport volumes. 

Vessel Specifications :

• Length, overall abt. 168m 
• Length, b.p.p. 163m 
• Breadth (mid) 23.32m 
• Depth (mid) 8.50m 
• Draft, design (mid) 5.70m 
• Draft, scantling (mid) 6.0m 
• Speed, service 14 kn