Recently, the world’s first 6-sail-assisted ro‑ro vessel, constructed by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., Ltd. (WS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), for a European shipowner, has been successfully launched.
The vessel features a “methanol fuel + wind-assisted” design, with an overall length of approximately 169 meters, a beam of 23.32 meters, a design draft of 5.7 meters, a service speed of 14 knots and a maximum speed of 17 knots.
It is equipped with two methanol dual-fuel main engines, two methanol dual-fuel auxiliary engines, two sets of stabilizing fins, and advanced automated systems such as an energy-saving optimization management system, an energy efficiency management and monitoring system, and a gas emission monitoring system. The methanol dual-fuel main engines can flexibly switch between methanol and conventional fuels. Methanol combustion produces no sulfur emissions, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 80% compared to conventional fuel oil, and carbon emissions by approximately 25%.
The vessel is equipped with six rotor sails installed at the bow, stern, and midship sections. Constructed from aerospace-grade lightweight composite materials with aerodynamically optimized designs, these sails harness the Magnus effect to provide auxiliary propulsion. This system substantially reduces fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, lowering main engine power consumption by 15%–20% under ideal sea conditions. It significantly enhances the vessel’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and economic performance.
It is understood that upon delivery, the vessel will be used to transport aircraft components, capable of carrying approximately 70 forty-foot containers and six single-aisle aircraft assemblies—including wings, fuselages, engine pylons, and horizontal and vertical tail surfaces—in a single voyage. To meet the specialized transport requirements for aircraft components, the vessel’s stern is equipped with a complete ro-ro system, including heavy-duty stern ramps and large cargo elevators. This enables rapid and secure ro-ro loading and unloading of oversized components, ensuring both logistics efficiency and cargo integrity.
In January 2024, Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry signed a contract with LD SEAPLANE SAS, a subsidiary of LDA, for the construction of three sail-assisted ro-ro vessels. The vessel launched this time is the first in this series. Following its launch, it will enter the mooring and sea trial phases, where comprehensive commissioning of the propulsion system, methanol fueling, and sail installation and debugging will be carried out.