The French shipping company Neoline Armateur has taken delivery of its first large, predominantly wind-powered freighter. The “Neoliner Origin” was built at the RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey, and delivered at the end of September.
After stopovers in the Mediterranean, the 136-meter-long ro-ro ship reached the French Mediterranean city of Marseille on Monday. From there, it will continue on to its home port of Saint-Nazaire, where preparations are being made for the first Atlantic crossing.
The ship has two rigid sails of the “Solidsail” type, developed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which have a surface area of 3,000 m² and can be folded in for port maneuvers. A commercial speed of 11 knots under sail is planned. An additional diesel-electric drive with an output of 4,000 kW allows up to 14 knots. The operator expects fuel savings of around 80% compared to conventional freighters.
The route planning envisages a monthly liner service from Montoir-de-Bretagne. The first Atlantic crossing is scheduled for October 15. Stations include St-Pierre & Miquelon, Baltimore, Halifax and Cork. This new transatlantic route is intended to offer shippers who have opted for Neoline “an industrial and competitive transportation service that is as low-carbon as possible and offers new possibilities in terms of cargo types (rolling and oversized cargo) and destinations,” it says.
As a RoRo ship, the “Neoliner Origin” has 1,200 loading meters and a carrying capacity of 11,000 tons. It transports cars, commercial vehicles, machinery, containers on special trailers and general cargo. During the first freight pick-up in Bastia, Corsica, 315 cars were transported to Marseille.
In addition to its freight capacity, the ship offers six double cabins for up to twelve passengers as well as lounges, a sun deck, fitness room and WLAN. The crew consists of 13 people.
Neoline is supported in the project by Renault as shipper and CMA CGM as investor. Steel cutting began at the end of 2023, the keel was laid in 2024 and the ship was launched in January 2025. After sea trials in July and September, the shipping company took delivery of the ship at the end of September.
Neoline Développement was founded in 2015 by a group of experts from the shipping industry who were convinced that cargo ships with sail propulsion could make a significant contribution to lower-emission shipping. Neoline Armateur is the shipping company founded by Neoline Développement in 2021 that will operate the first ship.
French companies such as the Renault Group, the Beneteau Group, the Manitou Group, Michelin, Jas Hennessy & Co, Clarins, Longchamp, Rémy Cointreau and La Fournée Dorée are among the first customers on the new route between France and North America. Neoline Armateur is owned by CMA CGM, Ademe Investissement, Neoline Développement, Corsica Ferries and Louis Hardy.
The financing of the vessel is provided by CIC together with CIC Ouest, BPGO and Banque Palatine. The project also benefits from a guarantee for strategic projects from BPIFrance and additional financing from the Banque des Territoires des Pays de la Loire and the Pays de la Loire region.
