Neoliner Origin
 Neoliner Origin in 2025 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Neoliner Origin |
| Owner | Neoline |
| Builder | RMK Marine shipyard, Tuzla, Turkey |
| Laid down | November 2023 |
| Launched | Early 2025 |
| Home port | Nantes, France[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Sail-powered roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) cargo ship[1] |
| Length | 136 m (446 ft) |
| Beam | 24.2 m (79 ft)[1] |
| Draft | 5.5 m (18 ft)[1] |
| Propulsion | 2 SolidSail units + diesel electric engine |
| Sail plan |
|
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Capacity | 5,300 t (5,200 long tons) |
| Crew | 20[1] |
Neoliner Origin is a sail-powered roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) cargo ship which began service on a transatlantic route in 2025. The vessel was developed by French company Neoline with the goal of reducing carbon emissions for merchant shipping. It is the largest sail-powered cargo ship in the world as of 2026.[update]
Development
[edit]Neoline is a shipping company founded in 2015 by Jean Zanuttini and nine co-founders, with a vision of prioritising environmental responsibility.[citation needed] Development of Neoliner Origin began in 2016, and in 2025 the vessel became the company's first vessel to be put into service.[1]
Specifications
[edit]Neoliner Origin is designed to use sails as its main propulsion. It is also equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system for backup power. The ship is 136 metres (446 ft) in length, with a cargo capacity of 5,300 tonnes.[1] It is the largest sail-powered cargo ship in the world as of 2025[update].[2][3][4]
The vessel features two 1,500-square-metre (16,000 sq ft) SolidSail sails, which were developed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique.[1] The two SolidSail units are mounted on 76-metre (249 ft) masts, which can be lowered to allow passage beneath bridges and other structures with limited air-draft.[5][6] Neoliner Origin has a maximum speed of 16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h), with a cruising speed of up to 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h) using only the sails.[1] It also has fins to counter lateral drift, designed by Fouré Lagadec.[1]
Construction
[edit]Construction of the vessel began in November 2023.[7] The hull of Neoliner Origin was built at RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey, where it was launched early in 2025. Installation of the masts and sails was completed separately.[citation needed]
After the completion of sea trials, the ship was handed over to its owner in September 2025.[7] On the ship's delivery journey from Turkey to Saint-Nazaire, Neoliner Origin paused in Bastia for its first loading operation.[7]
First transatlantic voyage
[edit]Neoliner Origin's first transatlantic voyage was completed in October 2025, taking eight days from Saint-Nazaire to Saint Pierre and Miquelon (off the Canadian coast) en route to Baltimore.[8]
Among the cargo on the maiden voyage was a shipment from French cosmetics company Clarins. Clarins and Neoline have been in partnership since 2021 seeking more sustainable shipping.[9][10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Vessel Review | Neoliner Origin – France's Neoline to deploy sailing Ro-Ro cargo ship on trans-Atlantic routes". Baird Maritime / Work Boat World. 29 October 2025. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ↑ "World's largest cargo sailboat makes first transatlantic crossing". Reuters. 31 October 2025. Archived from the original on 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Viviano, Meg Walburn (30 October 2025). "World's Largest Sailing Cargo Ship Arrives in Baltimore in Maiden Transatlantic Voyage". Chesapeake Bay Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ Cavanagh, Michaela (19 November 2025). "Onboard the world's largest sailing cargo ship: is this the future of travel and transport?". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ↑ "Neoliner Origin: Sail-Powered Cargo Ship Delivered for Inaugural Atlantic Voyage". Nautical Nova. 6 October 2025. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ↑ Drăgan, Otilia (15 October 2025). "World's First Commercial Sailing Ro-Ro Ship Is Headed to Baltimore". AutoEvolution.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- 1 2 3 Kosmajac, Sara (15 October 2025). "Neoliner Origin, the 'world's first' sailing RoRo vessel, is finally here". Offshore Energy. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ↑ Karsten, Jens (30 October 2025). "Neoline's new sailing Ro-Ro completes first trans-Atlantic crossing". Baird Maritime / Work Boat World. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ↑ "Clarins s'associe avec Neoline pour des transports maritimes plus durables" [Clarins is partnering with Neoline for more sustainable maritime transport.]. Journal du Luxe (in French). 21 May 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ↑ "Saint-Nazaire. Clarins s'engage auprès de Neoline, armateur des cargos à voile" [Saint-Nazaire. Clarins is partnering with Neoline, the shipping company that operates sailing cargo ships.]. Ouest-France (in French). 13 May 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Neoliner Origin, Ro-Ro Cargo Ship, IMO 1021829 at VesselFinder.com