World’s longest: 450-feet cargo sail ship with 5,842 tons cargo capacity launched

The world of shipping is about to change. The world’s longest wind-powered cargo ship was recently launched in Tuzla port of Turkey.

Dubbed Neoliner Origin, the 450-foot (136-meter) vessel promises to slash carbon emissions and usher in a greener era of maritime transport. Interestingly, it can carry 5,842 tons (5,300 tonnes) of cargo over long distances.

Following its launch, the ship will now be fitted out over the next six months. In summer 2025, the ship will travel from Turkey to Saint-Nazaire, France.

From here on, it is expected to begin its North American route, stopping at France’s Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, the US port of Baltimore, and Canada’s Halifax.

The vessel was designed by the French company Neoline and constructed by the Turkish shipyard RMK Marine.

“With the great initiative of Neoline Armateurs, the project sprang to life in 2023 with a vision for a greener, more sustainable future. This extraordinary 136-meter vessel will reduce fossil fuel consumption by over 80 percent and will harness the power of the wind as its primary driving force,” RMK Marine stated in a LinkedIn update.

Ship specifications

The ship is powered by two masts and a huge sail. It is equipped with 3,000 square meters of sail and two 249-foot (76-meter) foldable Solidsail carbon masts. The ship’s masts are fitted with retractable leeboards to prevent sideways drift.

The ship also includes retractable anti-drift plans (by Fouré Lagadec) and a weather routing system (by D-ICE Engineering) for improved efficiency and navigation.

It has a loading capacity of 1,200 linear meters or 265 containers of 20 feet. It is designed to carry rolling equipment, containers, and oversized cargo.

The Neoliner has a capacity for 12 passengers in six double cabins, along with a crew of 13.

The ship’s hull was constructed from 75 blocks, cut from over 3,500 tons of steel. In terms of speed, the ship’s normal operating speed is 11 nautical miles (12.6 miles) per hour.

Slashing carbon emissions

This ship is designed to produce up to 80 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to similar conventionally-powered cargo ships.

“Thanks to the wind, and by reducing speed from 15 knots (about 30 kilometers or 18 miles an hour) to 11 knots, we can cut fuel consumption and therefore emissions by a factor of five compared with a conventional ship,” Jean Zanuttini, president of Nantes-based Neoline, told AFP.

According to the International Maritime Organization, maritime transport accounts for roughly 3 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

The ship will now be moved to RMK Marine’s outfitting quay for final work, mast installation, and dock trials. Sea trials for the Neoliner Origin will happen soon, with delivery expected in late June 2025 and its first voyage from Saint-Nazaire planned for summer 2025.

Reportedly, the Neoliner project received financial backing from the French Public Investment Bank (BPI) and shipping company CMA-CGM. Neoline’s president also announced plans to start building a second ship soon.

source : yahoo