LD Armateurs’ World’s Largest Wind-Propelled Cargo Vessel fitted with Norsepower Rotor Sails™
LD Armateurs and Norsepower are proud to announce the completed installation of six Norsepower Rotor Sails™ on board Spirit of Toulouse, the lead vessel in a new fleet of three low-emission RoRo ships built for LD Armateurs (LDA) to support transport operations for Airbus. The installation, carried out by the project team of the shipyard, ...
LD Armateurs and Norsepower have successfully installed six Norsepower Rotor Sails™ on Spirit of Toulouse, the lead vessel in a new fleet of low-emission RoRo ships built for transporting Airbus sub-assemblies between European and North American production sites. The installation, completed in Shanghai by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co. Ltd., makes Spirit of Toulouse the largest RoRo vessel equipped with wind-propulsion and the vessel with the most mechanical sails worldwide, boasting six 35m x 5m rotor sails paired with dual-fuel main engines and generator sets capable of running on e-methanol, bio-methanol, or marine diesel oil.
Norsepower's Rotor Sails are designed to work synergistically with the vessel's methanol propulsion system, reducing fuel consumption and improving efficiency. Spirit of Toulouse is the first of three sister ships, Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel, on charter to Airbus for moving large aircraft components. Norsepower and LD Armateurs announced their collaboration in early 2024, with construction beginning in October 2024 and the lead vessel launched in February 2026.
LD Armateurs CEO Samira Draoua emphasized the vessel's role as a demonstration of how the maritime industry can accelerate its transition to lower-carbon shipping through innovation, operational expertise, and strong industrial partnerships. Norsepower CEO Heikki Pöntynen highlighted the significance of the installation as a world first for wind propulsion in the RoRo segment, designed to cut fuel consumption and emissions from the vessel's first voyage.
The shipyard project team built a dedicated construction plan for the installation, and commissioning activities commenced immediately following the installation of the first sail. The rotor sails will undergo comprehensive testing during the vessel's sea trials to confirm their performance and seamless integration with onboard systems, ensuring the technology delivers its full operational potential.
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