NEOLINE’s First Sail-Powered Cargo Ship Completes First Commercial Loading

NEOLINE’s pioneering sail-powered cargo ship, Neoliner Origin, has successfully completed its first commercial loading operation. The vessel is now on its way to its home port in Saint-Nazaire, France, after departing Turkey in late September following the completion of construction.

The ship made a planned stopover in Bastia on Saturday en route to France. At this stop, 315 cars for NEOLINE’s client Filpar were loaded onto the vessel. These vehicles were subsequently unloaded in Marseille the following day. This marks the first commercial operation of the Neoliner Origin.

According to NEOLINE, the final sea trials of the vessel demonstrated its full operational capabilities. The official delivery took place last Friday, during which the French flag was raised.

Construction of the Neoliner Origin began in January 2023 at RMK Marine shipyard in Turkey. The project is the culmination of NEOLINE’s vision since its founding in 2015 to become “the world’s first shipowner specializing in modern roll-on/roll-off cargo vessels powered primarily by wind and sails.”

NEOLINE Armateur, the shipowning company formed in 2021 to operate such vessels, reached its financing goal of 60 million euros from a combination of public and private partners, including CMA CGM, a major French shipping group.

The vessel is 136 meters long and features two folding “Solidsail Rig System” carbon fiber masts manufactured by Chantiers De l’Atlantique in France. Each mast stands 76 meters tall and supports 3,000 square meters of rigid sails. The Neoliner Origin, with a cargo capacity of 6,300 tons, can carry up to 321 cars, 265 20-foot containers, or 125 40-foot containers.

NEOLINE plans to operate the vessel along a route connecting Saint-Nazaire, France, with Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon in Newfoundland, Baltimore in Maryland, and Halifax in Nova Scotia.

The company has already signed agreements with major customers including Renault Group, Beneteau Group, Manitou Group, Michelin, Jas Hennessy & Co, Clarins, Longchamp, and Rémy Cointreau.

On social media, NEOLINE described the departure of the Neoliner Origin from Turkey as a landmark moment for the company. NEOLINE expressed gratitude toward its pioneer shippers, financial and technical partners, as well as all the teams, institutions, and individuals involved in the project.

The vessel is now on its way to its first Mediterranean stopover before arriving in Saint-Nazaire on October 12. From there, it will embark on its first transatlantic crossing.

Reference: NEOLINE

Source: Maritime Shipping News