Becker Daggerboard Tested on Airbus Cargo Ship
Sea trials of the Spirit of Toulouse validated an anti-drift fin system designed to help wind-assisted cargo vessels hold course.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cruises
Becker Marine Systems' Anti-Drift Daggerboard system was successfully tested during sea trials of the 168-metre RoRo cargo vessel Spirit of Toulouse, which transports Airbus aircraft components across the Atlantic. The vessel was built for French shipping company Louis Dreyfus Armateurs.
Why it matters
Wind-assisted propulsion produces lateral forces that can push a vessel off course, and the Daggerboards are designed to counteract that drift so more wind energy converts into forward motion. Airbus expects the wider fleet to play a role in cutting transatlantic shipping emissions.
The Daggerboard fins each cover 8.8 m² and are designed to produce 300 kN of lift per vessel, while Airbus projects the three-ship fleet will cut annual transatlantic CO₂ emissions by more than half by 2030 against 2023 levels. The extraction does not include measured drift reduction or fuel savings from the sea trials.
The players
Becker Marine Systems
Becker Marine Systems is a German marine equipment maker that supplied the foldable Daggerboard system fitted to the Spirit of Toulouse.
Airbus
Airbus is the European aerospace manufacturer that operates the three wind-assisted RoRo cargo vessels to move aircraft components between its European sites and its Mobile, Alabama assembly facility.
Louis Dreyfus Armateurs
Louis Dreyfus Armateurs is a French shipping company that built the Spirit of Toulouse for the transatlantic cargo route.
The details
The Spirit of Toulouse carries six 35-metre Flettner rotors supplied by Norsepower and dual-fuel engines capable of running on alternative fuels. Daggerboards are hydrodynamically optimised underwater fins that generate lift, and Becker's foldable version supports a greater share of rotor-harnessed wind energy going into propulsion.
Timeline
2023: Baseline year for Airbus's projected emissions comparison
2030: Target year for projected more-than-half reduction in annual CO₂ emissions
Roadmap
The Spirit of Toulouse pairs Norsepower Flettner rotors with Becker Daggerboards, extending wind-assisted propulsion beyond rotor thrust alone to address the lateral drift that rotor sails create. The approach positions the vessel within the wider move by Airbus and its shipping partners toward lower-emission transatlantic freight.
For travelers and freight planners, the practical effect is limited in the near term, since the Daggerboard system is being proven on a single cargo route rather than passenger service. The trial signals that wind-assisted designs may eventually reach more vessels on routes that shape the cost and timing of moving goods across the Atlantic.
The takeaway
Wind-assisted ships only deliver savings if their steering and drift are controlled, so the Daggerboard trial matters as much as the rotors themselves. Watching whether the projected 2030 emissions cuts materialize will show how far this approach can scale.
Further reading
Explore more Cruises coverage for context on how wind-assisted and low-emission vessel designs are reshaping ocean travel and freight.
