Deltamarin to design LDA’s new wind-powered ROROs

Finland-based marine engineering company Deltamarin has struck a deal with Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co Ltd. (WSIG) to design three roll-on/roll-off vessels for Airbus aircraft subassembly transportation.

The construction of the vessels has been commissioned by Airbus as part of its fleet renewal efforts.

The three RoRos will be propelled by six Flettner rotors paired with two dual-fuel engines operating on maritime diesel oil and e-methanol.

The new fleet is set out to cut C02 emissions by 50% compared to 2023 levels by the year 2030.

Deltamarin has previously collaborated with Louis Dreyfus Armateurs on the concept design of the vessels, and now continues with the basic and detail design for the Wuchang shipyard.

“Deltamarin has significant experience in China, demonstrated by various successful projects completed in Chinese shipyards. These achievements reflect strong cooperation between the parties involved, which is notably evident in the projects carried out for LDA, a client with whom we have maintained a longstanding and strong partnership over the years,” the company said.

Each new transatlantic vessel will have the capacity to transport around seventy 40-foot containers and six single-aisle aircraft subassembly sets, a substantial increase from current cargo ships.

The vessels will be built, owned, and operated by LDA and are expected to commence operations in 2026.

Last month, Deltamarin signed a design contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd for the design and engineering of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s next-generation Pure Car & Truck Carriers (PCTCs).

The contract includes the complete basic and detailed design work for four confirmed, and up to eight optional, units of 9,350 CEU class methanol dual-fuel PCTCs ordered by Wallenius Wilhemsen.

Prior to this engineering contract, Deltamarin has executed the outline and contract design of the new vessels.

The vessels will be built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. and the first vessel will be delivered in the second half of 2026. The ships will be ammonia-ready allowing for their conversion to ammonia at a later stage.