Michelin Group boosts Neoline's cargo sail ships ambitions

Neoline is planning to build two vessels relying primarily on sails for propulsion, with the first vessel to enter service on the transatlantic trade in 2023.

Michelin has signed a letter of commitment to ship tyres from Halifax, Canada) to Saint-Nazaire - Montoir de Bretagne, France.

“This first commitment concerns Eastbound flow (from the Americas to Europe) and comes in addition to an already well-filled orderbook in Westbound direction (from Europe to the Americas). With our sailing cargo ships, we are developing a mode of transport that is more environmentally friendly, adapted to the current economic and logistical reality of shippers and not dependent on fossil fuels., said Jean Zanuttini, president of Neoline.

The shipping company already had commitments from Groupe Renault, Groupe Beneteau, Manitou Group, and Jas Hennessy & Co.

Pierre-Martin Huet, Michelin Group supply chain director, said: "This initiative and this new partnership promote innovation in the field of carbon-free transport. This first step in carbon-free shipping is fully in line with the CSR strategy of Michelin's operations. It will contribute to achieving the objective of reducing CO2 emissions from logistics by 15% in absolute terms between 2018 and 2030.”

Neoline is yet to start building the 36 m long cargo ships with 4,200 sq m of sails.

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Zanuttini said: "With our partners, we are currently working on the different options available to  start the construction of our first vessel as soon as possible.”