SHANGHAI: NLD Armateurs and Norsepower report that Spirit of Toulouse, the lead vessel in the new fleet of three low-emission RO/RO ships being built to support Airbus’s transport operations has now been installed with six Norsepower rotor sails. The installation, carried out by a Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group team at a Shanghai outfitting makes the ship not only the largest RO/RO vessel in the world to be equipped with wind propulsion but also the vessel with the largest number of mechanical sails in the world.
The six Norsepower rotor sails, each measuring 35 x 5 meters, are paired with two dual-fuel main engines complemented by two dual-fuel generator sets, capable of running on e-methanol, bio-methanol or marine diesel oil. Norsepower’s wind propulsion is designed to work in synergy with the vessel’s methanol propulsion system, reducing fuel consumption and improving efficiency across the voyage rather than acting as a standalone add-on.
Spirit of Toulouse is the first of three sister ships — alongside Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel —under charter to Airbus to move large aircraft sub-assemblies between the manufacturer’s production sites in Europe and North America.
Norsepower and LD Armateurs first announced their collaboration in early 2024. Construction began at the shipyard by October of that year, and the lead vessel was launched in February 2026. Rotor sail installation has now been completed ahead of sea trials.
“Spirit of Toulouse is much more than a new vessel,” said Samira Draoua, CEO of LD Armateurs. “It is a tangible demonstration of how the maritime industry can accelerate its transition by combining innovation, operational expertise, and strong industrial partnerships. Bringing together six rotor sails and dual-fuel methanol propulsion on a ship of this scale is a world first that illustrates LD Armateurs’ commitment to pioneering tangible solutions for lower-carbon shipping.”
Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower, said : “Completing installation of six Norsepower rotor sails on Spirit of Toulouse is a significant milestone for wind propulsion in the RO/RO segment. Working in synergy with the vessel’s dual-fuel methanol engines, the rotor sails give LD Armateurs a vessel designed to cut fuel consumption and emissions from her first voyage. We’re proud of how smoothly this project has moved from agreement to installation, and we look forward to seeing the technology proven out on the transatlantic route.”
Fitting six rotor sails to a single hull is a demanding undertaking, and the shipyard project team built a dedicated construction plan for the job, refined through expert review and clearly defined roles before work began on site.
Commissioning activities commenced immediately following the installation of the first rotor sail. With all sails installed, the rotor sails will undergo comprehensive testing during the vessel’s upcoming sea trials to confirm their performance and seamless integration with onboard systems. Further optimization and fine-tuning will continue during the maiden voyage from China to France, ensuring the technology delivers its full operational potential.
