Airbus to Commission Three Wind-assisted Propulsion Vessels to Transport Aircraft Assemblies

The company has unveiled plans to modernize its fleet of chartered vessels responsible for transporting aircraft subassemblies between production facilities in Europe and the United States. It has partnered with shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to construct and operate three low-emission roll-on/roll-off vessels, equipped with wind-assisted propulsion technology.

These vessels are set to enter service by 2026.

The ambitious project is expected to significantly cut down on transatlantic carbon dioxide emissions. Airbus projects that average annual emissions will plummet from 68,000 tonnes to 33,000 tonnes by 2030. This reduction aligns with Airbus' overarching goal to diminish industrial emissions by up to 63% compared to 2015, in accordance with the 1.5°C pathway of the Paris Agreement.

Nicolas Chrétien, Head of Sustainability & Environment at Airbus, hailed this endeavor as a significant step toward minimizing the company's environmental footprint. He emphasized the enhanced fuel efficiency of the new vessel generation, which incorporates innovative features like wind-assisted propulsion. According to Chrétien, this initiative underscores Airbus' commitment to lead the way in decarbonizing not just aviation but all of its industrial operations.

The renewal of the chartered vessel fleet will primarily service the transport of aircraft subassemblies between Saint-Nazaire, France, and Airbus's single-aisle aircraft final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama.

The new vessels will be powered by a combination of six Flettner rotors - large, 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 optimise the vessels’ journey across the Atlantic, maximising wind propulsion and avoiding drag caused by adverse ocean conditions.

The fleet renewal also supports Airbus ambition to increase A320 family production rate to 75 aircraft per month by 2026. Each new transatlantic vessel will have the capacity to transport around seventy 40-foot containers and six single-aisle aircraft sub assembly sets - wings, fuselage, engine pylons, horizontal and vertical tail planes - compared to three to four sets with current cargo ships.