Louis Dreyfus Armateurs launches wind-assisted methanol dual-fuel RoRo vessel

French shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has launched the first of three wind-assisted methanol dual-fuel roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels under construction at Wuchang Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

IMAGE: Louis Dreyfus Armateurs’ RoRo vessel Spirit of Toulouse. LDA

The vessel, Spirit of Toulouse, will be equipped with six 35-metre rotor sails supplied by Finnish cleantech company Norsepower, alongside two dual-fuel engines capable of operating on methanol or conventional fuel.

Two sister vessels—Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel—are also under construction.

All three ships have been chartered to European commercial aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

LDA already operates two vessels for Airbus on the transatlantic route, including Ville de Bordeaux, currently the largest in the fleet, with capacity to transport up to six aircrafts. The new vessels will match this cargo capacity.

By Tuhin Roy

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