French tyre manufacturer Michelin has signed a deal that commits the company to transporting containers with its tyres from Halifax, Canada to France via start-up wind ship operator NEOLINE.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]Two prototype vessels of the kind that will operate the service are due to be delivered in 2023 and 2024 with the pilot line operational out of Halifax to Saint-Nazaire – Montoir de Bretagne in France by 2023.
Neoliners will be 136m long with a 24.2m beam and a draught of up to 14m, and will have a cargo capacity of 5,000dwt. All the cargo will be loaded by two ramps to the 2,236m2 main deck, and the 1,200m2 lower deck. The vessel will have 1,500 linear meters or the capability to carry 500 cars as well as 280TEU in containers.
The vessel will be powered by 4200m2 of sail as well as a 4MW diesel electric system which will give the vessel a commercial speed of 11knots and a maximum speed of 14knots under main engine power. In total the company said it will reduce carbon emissions by 90%. However, there is little detail on the sail technology, the company appears to be using fabric sails, with an innovative rigging system.
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 [corporate social responsibility] 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.”
Michelin was the latest shipper to sign up to NEOLINE’s vision, but there have been others including Hennessy and various French car manufacturers.
Jean Zanuttini, President of NEOLINE, added: “This first commitment concerns Eastbound flow (from the Americas to Europe) and comes in addition to an already well-filled order book in the 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.”
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