A French cooperative named Windcoop has finalized a construction order for what they are hailing as the world’s first sail-powered containership, reports Interesting Engineering.
Largest Sailing Cargo Ship
Windcoop has commissioned Turkey’s RMK Marine to construct its first open-hatch, sail-powered cargo ship. This vessel is designed to integrate wind propulsion with efficient container handling, marking the beginning of Windcoop’s planned fleet of environmentally friendly vessels.
The design overcomes significant technical and logistical challenges by featuring asymmetrical sails and an open-hatch configuration. Cranes are positioned opposite the sails to ensure stability and enable autonomous loading and unloading operations.
In August 2024, the “world’s largest sailing cargo ship,” named Anemos, embarked on its maiden voyage. This 81-meter-long vessel transported 1,000 tons of high-value cargo on its initial journey from Southern Brittany, France, to New York.
Wind Driven
Launched in 2022 and based in Lorient, France, the Windcoop initiative was founded through a collaboration between three organizations – Zéphyr & Borée, Enercoop, and Arcadie – all focused on sustainable transport and energy solutions.
The Windcoop ship will have a length of approximately 91.3 meters (around 300 feet) and a capacity to hold 40 reefer plugs in addition to 210 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). The vessel will be equipped with three wing sails, each with a surface area of 350 square meters (approximately 3,800 square feet), resulting in a total sail area of 1,050 square meters (11,300 square feet).
According to a report by The Marine Executive (TME), this ship is designed to combine wind propulsion with efficient container handling capabilities and is expected to operate at an average speed of 9 knots (10.35 mph).
Sustainable Logistics
Windcoop has chosen its initial service route strategically, focusing on secondary ports that are frequently underserved due to inadequate infrastructure and limited loading capabilities. The company’s objective is to enhance accessibility to these ports, decrease dependence on land-based transportation, and ultimately lower carbon emissions associated with freight movement.
The vessel, which will be registered in France, will operate a direct service between Marseille and several ports in Madagascar: Tamatave, Diego Suarez, and Majunga, eliminating the need for cargo transshipment. The route includes a transit through the Suez Canal, with an estimated voyage duration of 31 days, according to The Marine Executive (TME).
The cargo transported from Madagascar to France will include goods such as aquaculture products, cocoa, vanilla, spices, essential oils, and textiles. For the return journey from France to Madagascar, the vessel will carry retail items, glassware, paramedical supplies, and textiles. This service is designed to strengthen trade connections between the two regions while simultaneously improving the sustainability of maritime logistics.
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Source: Interesting Engineering
