Feature, Freight News, Sea


No ordinary ship, no ordinary cargo

[ February 3, 2025   //   ]

This may look like any other cargo ship, but the Neoliner Origin which was launched at the RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey on 31 January, could be the start of a green revolution.

With two 90m masts and 3000sq m of sails, the Neoliner Origin aims to reduce carbon emissions by 80% compared to a similar vessel. It is described as the world’s largest cargo ship to be powered primarily by sails and she should make her first transatlantic voyage between Nazaire, France, the French overseas territory of St Pierre & Miquelon and Baltimore in the US.

The 136m ship is primarily a ro-ro vessel, and will carry outsize items along with 5,300 tonnes of other cargo or 265 containers. She also has reefer capacity.

There are also cabins for to 12 passengers.

Project founders Jean Zanuttini and Michel Pery, both ex-mariners, are now hiring crew with expertise from yacht racing to help sail the ship.

In the coming months, the final stages of construction will be completed (including mast installation), after which the vessel will undergo sea trials before delivery by the end of June 2025.

The Neoliner Origin will carry a range of products from major French brands; from Longchamp handbags to bottles of Hennessy and Rémy Cointreau, Clarins cosmetics and Le Fournée Dorée brioche.

Jean Zanuttini, President at Neoline Development, set up Neoline in 2015, with nine cofounders including fellow seafarer Michel Pery, President of Neoline & Associates. He commented: “Neoline was created out of a desire to prove that we can create a different kind of shipping company; one that dramatically reduces emissions as well as delivering cargo reliably, on schedule, and handling a wide range of logistics challenges. That work starts now, with our upcoming sea trials.

“As we have built the company and Neoline, we worked closely with cargo owners to identify what they needed, and make sure that we were providing a reliable, convenient service as well as reducing climate emissions. As manufacturers are looking for new ways to to take action on their greenhouse emissions, we’re proud that so many iconic companies have chosen to work with us as part of their global decarbonization strategies.”

President of Neoline & Associates, Michel Pery, added: “Jean and I first started the design for this ship in 2011; now, seeing Neoliner Origin hit the water and approaching completion, it’s testament to 14 years of hard work and dedication. We’d like to thank everyone who has helped us get this far; the shipyard, our technical partners, and our cargo customers who’ve put their trust in us. With this first vessel, we aim to show that it is possible to carry goods industrially while staying within planetary limits.”

Photo Credit: Jules Richeux & Sandrine Avner, The Neoliner Origin, RMK Marine Shipyard, Tuzla, Turkey

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