Airbus Ship Departs for Europe
ππππππ£π ππππ πππ§π€π¨π¨ π©ππ πΌπ©π‘ππ£π©ππ:
Its three 72 foot high eSAILs plainly visible, Ville de Bordeaux, a 505 foot by 78 foot Ro-ro cargo ship sailing under the flag of France, passes Gaillard Island on its way out of Mobile Bay Tuesday afternoon. Moving at 17 mph, the ship heads back to Europe after delivering pieces of new airplanes that will be assembled at Airbusβ manufacturing facility in Mobile. Ville de Boredeaux was outfitted with the eSAILs to reduce fuel consumption. Developed by the Spain-based company bound4blue, the system includes electric-powered air suction and uses wind energy to help generate additional lift, reducing demand on the shipβs main engines. Bound4blue says its eSAILs generate six to seven times more lift than conventional rigid sails. Ville de Bordeaux is one of two ships Airbus uses to bring sections of new aircraft to Mobile from overseas. Photo shot from Orange St pier in Fairhope, roughly 6.5 miles awayβ¦