The world’s first commercial RoRo cargo sailing ship, the French “Neoliner Origin”, has been launched.
More than twelve years of work went into the development of the ship. The French shipping company Neoline Armateur signed the contract with the Turkish RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla in January 2023 and construction of the cargo sailing ship has been underway since November 2023.
RMK Marine is working with technical partners Mauric, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Bureau Veritas on the construction of the ship. It is a 136 m long and 24.2 m wide cargo ship with a sail area of 3,000 m². It will be equipped with two 76 m high folding solidsail carbon masts from Chantiers de l’Atlantique, retractable anti-drift plans from Fouré Lagadec and a highly efficient weather routing system from D-ICE Engineering.
Emissions are reduced by up to 90%
The ship also has a loading capacity of 1,200 loading meters or 265 TEU. The maximum load weight of the ship is 5,300 tons. In addition, up to 12 passengers are to be carried during its various rotations. As RMK Marine explained during the launch, the ship will reduce fossil fuel consumption by over 80% and “use the power of the wind as its primary propulsion force”. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 90% with the ship.
According to current plans, the “Neoliner Origin” is scheduled to go into operation in summer 2025, with the first tests planned for spring. The ship will then operate on a fixed route between Saint-Nazaire and Baltimore. On the way there, it will also make stops in the Canadian ports of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and Halifax.
“Neoliner Origin”: Across the Atlantic in 8 days
Neoline’s original plan is to start commercial service with two of these unique demonstration ships. This will allow departures every two weeks. The cargo ships are expected to reach a speed of up to 11 knots, so that the crossing of the Atlantic would be possible in 8 days. A further four days will be required for the onward journey to Baltimore.
This versatile RoRo vessel is designed to transport a variety of goods, including rolling stock, containers, oversized goods and pallets. Neoline has already attracted the interest of a number of French industrial companies, including the Renault Group, Groupe Beneteau, the Manitou Group, Michelin, Jas Hennessy & Co, Clarins, Longchamp, Rémy Cointreau and La Fournée Dorée. (CE)
