World’s largest sail cargo ship Neoliner Origin launched in Turkey

The Neoliner Origin – the world’s largest cargo ship to be powered primarily by sails – has left its slipway at the RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey, to be completed afloat at berth. In the coming months, the last stages of construction will be completed (including mast installation), after which the vessel will undergo sea trials before delivery by the end of June 2025.

With two 90-metre masts and 3,000 square metres of sails, this vessel is preparing for its first transatlantic voyage in summer 2025 from St. Nazaire, calling at St Pierre & Miquelon, a French overseas territory, and finally Baltimore in the USA.

Owned and operated by Neoline, the vessel is designed from the keel up to be as efficient as possible, and offer cargo shippers a new, low-carbon option for maritime freight. 60-70% of its propulsion power will come from the wind; and with other efficiency measures (notably slow steaming at 11kts), it aims to reduce carbon emissions by 80% compared to a similar vessel. In addition to its sails, it also uses hybrid diesel-electric power and generates energy from its own wake to reduce emissions.

The Neoliner Origin is primarily a Ro-Ro vessel, and will carry outsize cargo, including forklifts and other lifting equipment from Manitou, Renault cars and sailing yachts from Beneteau.

The 136-metre ship also has conventional capacity for 5,300 tonnes of cargo or 265 containers and will carry a range of products from major French brands; from Longchamp handbags to bottles of Hennessy and Rémy Cointreau, Clarins cosmetics and Le Fournée Dorée brioche.

It also has capacity for refrigerated cargo (reefer cargo) keeping food and drink fresh on its transatlantic voyage. 

Additionally, the vessel can accommodate comfortably up to 12 passengers on its 13-day journey.

Jean Zanuttini, President at Neoline Development, set up Neoline in 2015, with nine co-founders including fellow seafarer Michel Pery, President of Neoline & Associates, determined to demonstrate that a new type of shipping company was possible. Jean commented: 

“Completing construction of our ship is just the beginning, as we will soon begin operations,” he said. “Neoline was created out of a desire to prove that we can create a different kind of shipping company; one that dramatically reduces emissions as well as delivering cargo reliably, on schedule, and handling a wide range of logistics challenges. That work starts now, with our upcoming sea trials.

“As we have built the company and Neoline, we worked closely with cargo owners to identify what they needed, and make sure that we were providing a reliable, convenient service as well as reducing climate emissions. As manufacturers are looking for new ways to to take action on their greenhouse emissions, we’re proud that so many iconic companies have chosen to work with us as part of their global decarbonization strategies.”

Michel Pery, President of Neoline & Associates, added: “This is an extremely proud moment for me and the entire Neoline team. Throughout my career I’ve always thought about renewing the concept of sail cargo vessels. Jean and I first started the design for this ship in 2011; now, seeing Neoliner Origin hit the water and approaching completion, it’s testament to 14 years of hard work and dedication.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has helped us get this far; the shipyard, our technical partners, and our cargo customers who’ve put their trust in us. With this first vessel, we aim to show that it is possible to carry goods industrially while staying within planetary limits.”