World’s First Commercial Sailing RORO Ship Launched In Türkiye

Neoliner Origin, called the world’s first commercial sailing RORO ship, was launched at the RMK Marine Shipyard in Turkiye.

The 136 m long and 24.2 m wide sailing vessel is being constructed for the French Company Neoline.

Construction on the vessel began in November 2023, and the keel-laying ceremony was held in February 2024.

The ship is covered by 3000 m2 of sail and 2 foldable 76 m high Solidsail carbon masts built by Chantiers de I’Atlantique. It also has retractable anti-drift plans made by Foure Lagadec.

It also has a weather routing system developed by D-ICE Engineering.

The ship has a loading capacity of 1200 linear metres or 265 20’ containers with a maximum weight of 5300 tonnes.

It can accommodate 12 people in 6 double cabins apart from the 13 crew members.

Per Neoline, this ship can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% on an ocean crossing and eliminate sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions.

By the summer of this year, the ship will enter operations and carry an array of cargo, from pallets, containers, and rolling equipment to oversized goods. Its route will link Saint-Nazaire to Baltimore with scheduled stops in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Halifax.

Neoliner Origin is just one of the many wind ships ordered by French companies as in France, wind propulsion saw a tremendous growth last year.

The nation’s sailing fleet now consists of 11 cargo ships, with 4 new wind-powered ships added to the fleet in 2024.

Also, a total of 15 ships with wind propulsion are being built, as stated by the French Association which brings together 60 players involved in developing ship propulsion by wind.

References: Offshore Energy, Splash

Source: Maritime Shipping News