LD Armateurs has launched Spirit of Toulouse, the first of a new generation of roll-on/roll-off vessels chartered to Airbus for the transport of aircraft components across the Atlantic.

The vessel was launched last week at Wuchang Shipyard, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Two sister ships, Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel, remain under construction at the yard.

Each of the 168-metre vessels will combine wind-assisted propulsion with dual-fuel capability, featuring six 35-metre Norsepower rotor sails alongside two engines capable of running on e-methanol, bio-methanol, or marine diesel oil.

The ships have been developed using a holistic efficiency approach, incorporating high-efficiency propellers and shafts manufactured from recycled steel, very low-friction anti-fouling coatings, a smart power management system and a heat conversion system. Routing software and an AI-powered control solution will optimise sailing routes and aerodynamic performance in response to changing weather and sea conditions.

LD Armateurs expects each vessel to deliver around a 70% reduction in annual CO₂ emissions compared with the previous generation of ships operating on the route. Additional emission savings could be achieved through the use of low-carbon fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or e-methanol.

The company currently operates two vessels on the Airbus transatlantic service, including Ville de Bordeaux, which has a cargo capacity equivalent to six aircraft. The three new vessels will match this capacity.

At fleet level, and accounting for increased overall transport volume, the introduction of the new ships is forecast to cut average annual transatlantic CO₂ emissions by roughly 50% compared with 2023.

Spirit of Toulouse has an overall length of about 168 metres, a breadth of 23.32 metres, a design draught of 5.70 metres and a service speed of 14 knots.