Spirit of Toulouse Sets New Record with Six Rotor Sails

Credit: LD Lines

The Ro-Ro ship Spirit of Toulouse has completed the installation of six Norsepower rotor sails at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group’s facility in Shanghai. It now has the highest number of rotor sails fitted to a single vessel, marking an important step for wind-assisted propulsion in the Ro-Ro sector. Reported by The Maritime Telegraph.

Each rotor sail is 35 metres high and 5 metres in diameter. The spinning cylinders use wind to help move the ship and reduce fuel consumption. The system will be tested during sea trials before the vessel begins its maiden voyage from China to France.

Owned and operated by LD Armateurs, Spirit of Toulouse will carry large aircraft parts for Airbus between Europe and North America. Its two dual-fuel main engines and two generator sets can run on e-methanol, bio-methanol or marine diesel oil. Each ship in the new fleet is expected to cut annual CO₂ emissions by 70% compared with the previous generation. Across the fleet, average annual emissions on the transatlantic route are expected to fall by around 50% compared with 2023, while transport capacity increases.

Two sister ships, Spirit of Mobile and Spirit of Mirabel, are also part of the project. Spirit of Mobile was launched in June 2026, and the rotor sails are still to be installed on the two sister ships.

Global News

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