Airbus will renew the entire fleet of chartered vessels that transport aircraft subassemblies between European and United States production facilities with three modern, low-emission roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels supported by wind-assisted propulsion.
Airbus has commissioned shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) to build, own, and operate these new, highly efficient vessels that will enter service in 2026.
The new fleet will reduce annual transatlantic CO2 emissions from 68,000 to 33,000 tons by 2030. It will contribute to Airbus’ commitment to reduce its overall industrial emissions by up to 63% by the end of the decade—compared to 2015 as the baseline year—in line with the 1.5°C pathway of the Paris Agreement. By 2030, the new fleet will generate 50% fewer CO2 emissions than 2023.
“The renewal of our marine fleet is a major step forward in reducing our environmental impact,” said Nicolas Chrétien, Airbus head of sustainability and environment. “The latest generation of vessels proposed by LDA are more fuel efficient than their predecessors, using cutting-edge technologies like wind-assisted propulsion. This demonstrates our determination to lead the way in decarbonizing our sector by innovating not just in aviation but across all our industrial operations.”
“We are very pleased to have been selected by Airbus to develop this state-of-the-art and low-emission fleet and to continue our longstanding partnership,” said Edouard Louis-Dreyfus, LDA president. “This new project, setting high targets, reflects our ambition regarding decarbonizing the shipping industry. We are proud to support our customers in their energy transition, going even beyond their expectations by offering innovative solutions and sustainably driving change.”
Wind power and e-methanol
Airbus will gradually renew the chartered vessels that ferry its aircraft subassemblies across the Atlantic between Saint-Nazaire, France, and its single-aisle final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. The new vessels will be powered by a combination of six Flettner rotors—oversized, rotating cylinders that generate lift thanks to the wind, propelling the ship forward—and two dual-fuel engines running on maritime diesel oil and e-methanol. Additionally, routing software will optimize the vessels’ journey across the Atlantic, maximizing wind propulsion and avoiding drag caused by adverse ocean conditions.
The fleet renewal also supports Airbus’ ambition to increase the A320 family production rate to 75 aircraft per month by 2026. Each new transatlantic vessel will be able to transport around 70 40-foot containers and six single-aisle aircraft sub-assembly sets—wings, fuselage, engine pylons, horizontal and vertical tailplanes—compared to three to four sets with current cargo ships.
For over 170 years, LDA has specialized in providing custom industrial maritime solutions with high-added-value activities and integrated services to its clients, ranging from ship design and ship management to maritime operations, in the fields of transport, logistics, submarine cables, and renewable energy. LDA is a French family-owned group offering a worldwide presence with over 2,600 staff and 100 vessels. (Story and photo courtesy of Airbus)