LD Armateurs proudly announced the completion of the installation of six Norsepower™ rotor sails on the Spirit of Toulouse, the first ship of a trio of low-emission RoRo vessels. This ship is designed to support Airbus transport operations. The installation of these sails was carried out by the project team of the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group at a shore-based outfitting site in Shanghai, and Spirit of Toulouse is now not only the largest RoRo ship in the world utilizing wind power but also has the highest number of mechanical sails in the world.
Technical Details of the Spirit of Toulouse
The six rotor sails, each measuring 35 meters by 5 meters, are combined with two main dual-fuel engines and two dual-fuel generator sets capable of operating on e-methanol, bio-methanol, and marine gas oil. The Norsepower wind propulsion is designed to work in conjunction with the ship's methanol propulsion system to help reduce fuel consumption and improve efficiency during voyages.
Spirit of Toulouse, owned and operated by LD Armateurs, is now equipped with six Norsepower™ rotor sails — the highest number installed on a RoRo ship — which, alongside the dual-fuel methanol engines, helps reduce fuel consumption.
Sister Fleet and Construction Phases
Spirit of Toulouse is the first ship of three sister vessels — along with Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel — that are leased to Airbus to transport large aircraft components between the company's production sites in Europe and North America. The collaboration between Norsepower and LD Armateurs was first announced in early 2024, and construction of the ship began in October of that year. The main vessel is set to be launched in February 2026, and the installation of the rotor sails has now been completed ahead of sea trials.
Samira Darava, CEO of LD Armateurs, stated: "Spirit of Toulouse is more than just a new ship. It is a tangible demonstration of how to accelerate the maritime industry's transition by combining innovation, operational expertise, and strong industrial partnerships." She added: "The integration of six rotor sails and dual-fuel methanol propulsion on a vessel of this size is a global innovation that showcases LD Armateurs' commitment to providing tangible solutions for lower-carbon transportation."
Heikki Penttinen, CEO of Norsepower, also said: "The completion of the installation of six Norsepower rotor sails on Spirit of Toulouse is a significant milestone for wind power in the RoRo sector. These sails are designed to help reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the ship's first voyage."
Installing six rotor sails on a single hull is a challenging task, and the shipbuilding project team has developed a special construction plan for this work. Commissioning activities began immediately after the installation of the first sail. With the installation of all sails, comprehensive testing will be conducted during upcoming sea trials to confirm their performance and seamless integration with the ship's existing systems.
Jean-Baptiste Boutillier, Operations Manager at LD Armateurs, added: "Working with Norsepower on this project has been excellent and has set a strong benchmark for the next two vessels." He noted that with careful planning and effective execution, the installation of the rotor sails has been carried out safely and accurately.
