Neoliner Cargo: A wind-powered maritime transport solution
Equans is participating in the construction of the very first sailing cargo ship for the Nantes-based shipping company NEOLINE. This contract, signed with the Turkish shipyard RMK Marine, includes the installation of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems by experts from Axima Marine, with delivery expected in 2025. Named the Neoliner, the vessel is part of an effort to decarbonize maritime freight.
With a sail area of 3,000 m², this transatlantic vessel is expected to save between 80% and 90% in fuel consumption compared to a ship of equivalent size. NEOLINE is thus striving to address the challenges posed by climate change.
© NEOLINE/MAURIC
The Importance of Reevaluating the Shipping Industry
By 2050, shipping could account for about 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is a scenario the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is determined to avoid. Its goal is to reduce GHG emissions from maritime transport by at least 50%. This decision should push companies to reinvent themselves by shaking up their habits and taking strong measures to limit their environmental footprint. With this in mind, NEOLINE—through the experts at Axima Marine—has taken concrete steps to address these challenges.
Its future vessel, the Neoliner, is a ro-ro sailing cargo ship with sail-powered propulsion as its primary propulsion system. 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 St-Nazaire to the U.S. East Coast starting in mid-2025, with two stops in St-Pierre and Miquelon. The goal is to operate this route with two vessels to enable two departures per month.
“ For the entire NEOLINE team—its founders, technical partners (including Axima Marine), clients, and investors—the announcement in January that construction of the first Neoliner had begun marks the culmination of a long journey undertaken with passion and determination. This marks the first milestone in an ambitious project launched in 2011 that offers an efficient, industrial-scale sailing shipping solution powered by wind energy to help combat climate change and accelerate the energy transition in the sector: our customers will reduce the environmental impact of their supply chain by at least 80% on their transatlantic route. ”
Between 80% and 90% less fuel consumption
Axima Marine, a subsidiary of Equans France, has entered into a three-year partnership with the Turkish shipyard RMK Marine to help bring this first transatlantic sailing cargo ship to life. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as refrigeration systems, are the second-largest source of energy consumption at sea after a ship’s propulsion system.
A leader in HVAC and refrigeration for the maritime sector for 140 years, Axima Marine designs, supplies, and maintains solutions that support the energy transition. This project strengthens Axima Marine’s position as a leader in the fields of HVAC and refrigeration on board ships.
“ Combining performance, innovation, and energy efficiency is the challenge that the teams at Axima Marine take on every day as they support players in the marine industry in the construction and maintenance of high-performance, low-carbon ships. Working on the Neoliner and RMK Marine is a real source of satisfaction for us because it represents an innovative, high-performance, and competitive mode of transportation that aligns with our values. We applaud NEOLINE’s choice of sail propulsion, which drastically reduces fossil fuel consumption and the resulting emissions. ”