Wuchang Shipbuilding installs first Norsepower rotor sail on Spirit of Toulouse

Wuchang Shipbuilding has successfully installed the first of six giant Norsepower rotor sails on the Spirit of Toulouse, a new wind-assisted cargo vessel being built in Shanghai for the French shipowner LD Armateurs.

The installation on 8 September marks the official start of work on the ship’s wind-propulsion system. Once all six rotor sails are fitted, the vessel will hold the record for the highest number of rotor sails installed on a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ship of this type.

The Spirit of Toulouse is the first vessel in a series of wind-assisted Ro-Ro carriers being built for the French firm. These specialised ships are designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as vehicles and heavy industrial equipment, on routes where cutting emissions is becoming increasingly important.

How the hybrid propulsion system works

These rotor sails are imposing structures. Each one stands 35 metres tall and measures 5 metres in diameter. They work by spinning in the wind to generate aerodynamic thrust, pushing the ship forward and reducing the load on its engines.

The ship’s propulsion system combines these mechanical sails with two dual-fuel engines that can run on green methanol or marine diesel. When operating together, the sails and the methanol engines are designed to eliminate sulphur emissions entirely and cut nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 80 per cent. Using green methanol will allow the vessel to run on virtually zero-carbon voyages.

Safety milestone passed in Shanghai

The day after the first sail was mounted, on 9 September, the ship passed a key safety review for its methanol bunkering process in Shanghai. Wuchang Shipbuilding said the review confirms the vessel's methanol fuel system meets all the necessary safety standards for refueling operations. This milestone is essential for the safety of the upcoming mooring trials, sea trials, and delivery.

Wuchang Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, said it is now focused on completing the installation of the remaining five sails, commissioning the integrated systems, and starting sea trials to deliver the ship on schedule. The shipbuilder noted that the project is a concrete step towards the industrial application of green shipbuilding technologies, supporting the wider transition to low-carbon shipping.