In the burgeoning race to decarbonize maritime transport, sail power is making a significant comeback. France is at the forefront of this movement, with several cargo sailing ships under construction or in development.
The Immense Challenge of Maritime Emissions
The stakes are high. With approximately 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually, maritime transport accounts for 2.89% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Wind Power: A Mature and Abundant Solution
Among the alternative fuels to heavy fuel oil, such as hydrogen, methanol, or electricity, all have drawbacks in terms of cost, availability, or storage.
“Sail power is currently the only mature solution for decarbonizing 80 to 90% of maritime transport,” emphasizes Éric Foulquier, a researcher in geography at the University of Western Brittany.
Wind, a free and widely available energy source, is already utilized by around forty large cargo ships worldwide, according to the International Windship Association.
A Drop in the Ocean
However, this represents a mere fraction of the global fleet of over 105,000 vessels exceeding 100 tons. Moreover, sail power is currently used only as an auxiliary force, resulting in fuel savings that rarely exceed 20%, depending on the system employed (rotors, rigid wings, kites, etc.).
France at the Vanguard
To drastically reduce their CO2 emissions, several new shipowners are taking a more radical approach by designing vessels that primarily rely on wind for propulsion.
In this all-sail niche, “France is positioning itself at the forefront,” notes Lise Detrimont, general delegate of the Windship association.
The launch of brand-new schooners, specifically designed for cargo transport, began this year with the Grain de Sail II.
With a carrying capacity of 350 tons and a length of 52 meters, this sailing ship completed its first transatlantic crossing to New York in the spring, carrying wine, cosmetics, and leather goods.
“For now, there’s enthusiasm, we manage to fill the ship,” says Stefan Gallard, marketing director of Grain de Sail, based in Morlaix.
The Le Havre-based company TOWT, which is set to commission two cargo sailing ships this summer, has already planned a fleet of eight by 2027. These 81-meter-long schooners can carry 1,200 pallets, reducing CO2 emissions by 90% compared to fuel oil.
Technological Innovations
This return to the roots of navigation is far from regressive, as these ships are “a concentration of technologies: there are more than 50 technologies on board,” assures Guillaume Le Grand, president of TOWT. “We even have propellers that can rotate in reverse to generate renewable energy.”
Currently under construction, a 136-meter roll-on/roll-off vessel with a capacity of 5,300 tons, designed by the Nantes-based company Neoline, is expected to make its first transatlantic crossing in June 2025. It will then be the largest sailing merchant ship. “The sail system will operate 80% of the time, except for maneuvers in port or in case of delays,” explains Gabriella Paulet, communications manager.
Ambitious Projects and a Tipping Point
The Lorient-based cooperative Windcoop is working on an 85-meter sailing container ship with a capacity of 1,400 tons, which will connect France to Madagascar in 35 days, with 60% of the journey under sail.
Slower but also smaller than their fuel-powered counterparts, cargo sailing ships have the advantage of being able to load and unload in secondary ports, reducing travel times by avoiding transshipments in major port hubs like Le Havre or Antwerp.
All of them also benefit from weather routing, which allows them to optimize their routes based on wind conditions.
The most ambitious project is undoubtedly the one led by Zéphyr & Borée: a 160-meter container ship with a loading capacity of 12,000 tons. Equipped with a foldable rigid wing, it will have a carbon footprint halved compared to conventional ships.
“In three or four years, we will reach a tipping point: everyone will want sails,” predicts Nijs Joyeux, president of the Nantes-based company.