First steel cut for Neoliner sail-propelled ro-ro

The 136 metre-long ship, due to enter service in June 2025, will be deployed on a trans-Atlantic monthly port rotation between Saint-Nazaire, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Baltimore, and Halifax.

The project has had a long lead time of 12 years. It has brought together a wide range of technical and financial partners fired up by the prospect of a cargo vessel that will cut carbon emissions by more than 80% compared with conventional vessels of similar size. The scale of this reduction is a result of reduced energy requirements and the primary use of vellic propulsion.

RMK Marine’s Turkish yard won the deal of build the vessels. However, a number of French partners will also be involved, including Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Mauric, D-Ice Engineering, Fouré Lagadec, Engie Axima, and Bio-sea UV.

Speaking at the ceremony, Neoline President Jean Zanuttini, said: "This is an important day for all the Neoline team members and all our partners, as we are witnessing the long-awaited concrete start of the construction of the first Neoliner. After several months of detailed studies carried out in full cooperation between the teams from RMK Marine, Mauric, Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Bureau Veritas, we are entering an exciting period which will see the ship being built day by day.

“The teams at RMK Marine and all their partners have our full confidence in building the Neoliner,” he continued, “which will be one of the largest sailing merchant ships in history. The Neoline Développement technical team, supported by Schulte Marine Concept, will be monitoring the construction in real time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this project: thanks to you!

“An idea that seemed crazy at the outset will come to life in the coming months. We are very proud to contribute with this project to the energy transition of the shipping sector and to design a desirable future for the next generation, as it is more than urgent to accelerate the change towards more respect for the environment,” he concluded.

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