French trio envisions wind-powered hybrid containership

Shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) is partnering with VPLP Design and ship management company Alwena Shipping to develop a 32,500-dwt wind-assisted containership.

PHOTO: Concept image of 2,500-TEU container ship called Trade Wings 2500. VPLP Design

Ship designer VPLP Design plans to base the design of the vessel on its existing 2,500-TEU containership called Trade Wings 2500.

Trade Wings 2500 is primarily sail-powered, but the vessel is equipped with diesel-electric propulsion system to assist operation when sail power is insufficient or not available.

It is also designed to be upgraded to run on LNG and ammonia instead of diesel in the future.

A concept design for the Trade Wings 2500 was approved in principle by the classification society Bureau Veritas in 2021.

By Konica Bhatt

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