More A320, Airbus Unveils its 'Beluga XXL' of the Seas

Airbus is counting on its future ships to reduce its environmental footprint and increase production rates for the A320.

Airbus is renewing its entire fleet of chartered ships for transporting aircraft subassemblies between production sites in Europe and the United States with three modern, low-emission roll-on/roll-off vessels assisted by a wind propulsion system. These future ships will also contribute to the increased production rate of the A320.

Airbus will gradually renew the chartered ships that transport aircraft subassemblies across the Atlantic between Saint-Nazaire, France, and its final assembly line for single-aisle aircraft in Mobile, Alabama. The new ships will be powered by the combination of six Flettner rotors - large rotating cylinders generating lift from the wind, propelling the ship forward - and two dual-fuel engines operating on maritime diesel and e-methanol. Additionally, a routing software will optimize the ships' journey across the Atlantic, maximizing sail propulsion and minimizing drag due to unfavorable oceanic conditions.

According to Airbus, the new fleet is expected to reduce average CO2 emissions from transatlantic journeys from 68,000 to 33,000 tonnes per year by 2030. This will contribute to Airbus' commitment to reducing its industrial emissions worldwide by up to 63% by the end of the decade compared to 2015. The fleet renewal also aligns with Airbus' goal to increase the production rate of the A320 family to 75 aircraft per month by 2026. Each new transatlantic ship will have the capacity to carry approximately seventy 40-foot containers (12.2 meters) and six single-aisle aircraft subassemblies (wings, fuselage, engine pylons, horizontal and vertical stabilizers), compared to three to four subassemblies on current cargo ships.

Airbus has selected the shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to build, acquire, and operate these highly efficient new ships, which will enter service starting in 2026.

Source : https://www.aerobuzz.fr/industrie/airbus-devoile-ses-beluga-xxl-des-mers/