Construction Begins on the Neoliner Cargo Ship

April 13, 2023

Construction Begins on the Neoliner Cargo Ship: Wind in the Sails, Clean Air in the Hold with Axima Marine

Equans France, through its subsidiary Axima Marine, has just signed a contract with the Turkish shipyard RMK Marine to carry out the HVAC package— heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—for the very first sailing cargo ship owned by the Nantes-based shipping company NEOLINE. The vessel, named Neoliner, is part of an effort to decarbonize maritime freight. Scheduled to enter service by 2025, this transatlantic cargo ship is expected to save 80% to 90% of fuel compared to a ship of equivalent size, thanks to its 3,000 m² of sail area. Axima is proud to contribute to the development of this innovative project, thereby providing a concrete and effective response to climate change and rising fuel prices.

A Necessary Reassessment of Maritime Transport

Shipping could account for approximately 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

To avoid this scenario, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to reduce GHG emissions from maritime transport by at least 50% by 2050. This commitment is shaking up the status quo across an entire industry, which must take strong measures to limit its environmental footprint, following the example of NEOLINE.

Its future vessel, the Neoliner, is a sail-powered ro-ro cargo ship with sail propulsion as its primary power source. The transatlantic route operated by NEOLINE will focus on a niche market, offering new capabilities in terms of cargo types (rolling stock and oversized cargo) and destinations.

The first shipping route is thus scheduled to connect, starting in mid-2025, St-Nazaire to the U.S. East Coast, with two stops at St-Pierre and Miquelon.

The goal is to operate this route with two ships to allow for two departures per month.