LD Armateurs Launches Spirit of Mobile, Second of Three Low Emission RoRo Vessels Chartered to Airbus

LD Armateurs is pleased to announce the successful launching of Spirit of Mobile on June 6th at Wuchang Shipyard (CSSC Group). 

Spirit of Mobile is the second vessel in the new generation of low-emission RoRo ships owned by LD Armateurs and chartered to Airbus. She is the sister ship of the Spirit of Toulouse, the first vessel in this innovative fleet developed by LDA. 

The vessel incorporates state-of-the-art technologies designed to significantly reduce its environmental footprint. It will be powered by six 35-metre Norsepower rotor sails, along with dual-fuel engines capable of operating on e-/bio-methanol or marine gasoil. 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. 

Additional innovations include high-efficiency propellers and shafts made from recycled steel, very low-friction antifouling coatings, a smart power management system, and a heat recovery system. Advanced routing software will enable the vessel to optimise its route, maximising wind propulsion while minimising drag from adverse ocean conditions. This is further enhanced by an AI-powered control solution, allowing real-time adaptation to weather and sea conditions and delivering vessel-specific aerodynamic optimisation. 

Following the launch, our teams onsite will now proceed with the tests and commissioning phases ahead of the vessel’s entry into service. Further details on the fleet and upcoming milestones will be shared in due course. 

In parallel, Spirit of Toulouse will soon be fitted with its rotor sails. We look forward to seeing her with her new sails. 

Stay tuned for more updates.