Berg Propulsion wins LDA Airbus ships hybrid propulsion system contract

Berg Propulsion has won a contract covering the hybrid propulsion solution that will ensure that three wind-assisted Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) RO/RO vessels maximize efficiency regardless of their mode of operation.

The vessels are being built for charter to Airbus and will transport aircraft subassemblies between Saint-Nazaire, France, and its single-aisle aircraft final assembly line in Mobile, Ala. Set to enter service in 2026, each will be fitted with six Norsepower rotor sails and two dual-fuel engines operating on diesel fuel and e-methanol. The percentage of e-methanol used will be stepped up in line with the availability of the green fuel.

Wind power drawn from the rotor sails will make a strong contribution to reduced emissions, with weather routing optimization software also in place to maximize wind-assisted time and minimize drag. In conventional mode, the ships will run on dual fuel methanol engines.

Optimizing propulsion performance at all times will rely on integrated power management and propulsion systems from Berg. As well as the complete propulsion train to work with each ship’s main engines, Berg is supplying state-of-the-art controllable pitch propellers with feathering capability.

Dynamic Drive is an adaptive thrust and fuel optimization software, offered for inclusion with the Berg Propulsion MPC 800 control system. The software automatically and dynamically identifies the most energy efficient settings for propeller pitch/RPM to produce the thrust to maintain the required speed.