French ship designer and investor Zephyr et Boree on 22 May commissioned five methanol-and-wind-fuelled 1,200 TEU feeder ships at South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard for US$311 million.
At an individual price of US$62.2 million, this is more than twice the cost of a conventional feeder vessel. Zephyr et Boree’s ships are believed to be the first of their kind to be built, resulting in a hefty price tag. Delivery of the newbuildings is expected in June 2026, upon which the vessels will be understood to serve the Transatlantic route.
Zephyr et Boree, backed by other corporate shippers that include tyre maker Michelin, is going for low-carbon ships to meet its investors’ environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) requirements.
Incorporated in April 2017 and founded by Nils Joyeux, Amaury Bolvin, Bernard Peignon and Victor Depoers, the company designs low-carbon and sail-assisted ships.
In May 2022, Joyeux, Bolvin, Peignon and Depoers set up Windcoop to attract investment funds to build, own and operate sail-assisted container ships.
Among Zephyr et Boree’s early projects was the design of Canopée, a low-carbon ro-ro cargo ship that moves space rocket parts for the Arianespace group.
Container News understands that the company is also working on the design of a smaller sail-assisted feeder ship, a hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel and a sail-assisted ro-ro cargo ship.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
