en.Wedoany.com Reported - On June 6, a sail-assisted roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) transport vessel built by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Wuchang Shipbuilding"), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), was successfully launched at its base in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The vessel was constructed for France's Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA). Once delivered, it will be used to transport aircraft components, capable of carrying approximately 70 40-foot containers and six single-aisle aircraft assemblies (including wings, fuselage, engine pylons, horizontal stabilizers, and vertical stabilizers) in a single voyage. Positioned as a demonstration vessel for green shipping, it will subsequently undergo comprehensive mooring and sea trials, along with methanol bunkering and the installation and commissioning of six sails.
The vessel has an overall length of approximately 169 meters, a molded breadth of 23.32 meters, a molded depth of 8.5 meters, a design draft of 5.7 meters, a service speed of 14 knots, and a maximum speed of 17 knots. The power system is equipped with two methanol dual-fuel main engines and two methanol dual-fuel auxiliary engines, allowing flexible switching between methanol and conventional fuels. Methanol combustion produces zero sulfur emissions, reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by over 80% compared to traditional fuel oil, and cuts carbon emissions by approximately 25%. Additionally, the vessel is fitted with advanced automation systems such as an energy-saving optimization management system, an energy efficiency management and monitoring system, and a gas emission monitoring system, along with two sets of stabilizer fins to enhance navigation stability and energy efficiency.
To meet the special transport requirements of large aircraft components, the vessel's stern is equipped with a full set of ro-ro systems, including a heavy-duty stern ramp and a large cargo elevator, enabling rapid and safe roll-on/roll-off loading and unloading of oversized components, effectively ensuring logistics efficiency and cargo integrity. The sail-assisted propulsion system is another core technological highlight of the vessel, utilizing wind energy for auxiliary propulsion to further reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during operation. After launching, the vessel will proceed with the installation and commissioning of six sails as planned.
Founded in 1934, Wuchang Shipbuilding is one of the core shipbuilding enterprises under CSSC, with extensive experience in constructing government vessels, high-tech ships, and specialized transport vessels. Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, founded in 1851 and headquartered in Puteaux, France, is a globally renowned shipping, logistics, and maritime services company, with operations spanning bulk carriers, ro-ro vessels, and sail-assisted ships, and a long-standing commitment to the development and application of low-carbon and sustainable shipping technologies. The construction of this sail-assisted ro-ro vessel represents a significant achievement in deepening cooperation between the two parties in the field of green shipping.
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