Neoliner Origin
Sail-powered cargo ship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neoliner Origin is a sail-powered roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) cargo ship which began service on a transatlantic route in 2025. The vessel was developed by French company Neoline with the goal of reducing carbon emissions for merchant shipping. It is the largest sail-powered cargo ship in the world as of 2025[update].
Neoliner Origin in 2025 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Neoliner Origin |
| Owner | Neoline |
| Builder | RMK Marine shipyard, Tuzla, Turkey |
| Laid down | November 2023 |
| Launched | Early 2025 |
| Home port | Nantes, France[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Sail-powered roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) cargo ship[1] |
| Length | 136 m (446 ft) |
| Beam | 24.2 m (79 ft)[1] |
| Draft | 5.5 m (18 ft)[1] |
| Propulsion | 2 SolidSail units + diesel electric engine |
| Sail plan |
|
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Capacity | 5,300 t (5,200 long tons) |
| Crew | 20[1] |
Development
Specifications
Neoliner Origin is designed to use sails as its main propulsion. It is also equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system for backup power. The ship is 136 metres (446 ft) in length, with a cargo capacity of 5,300 tonnes.[1] It is the largest sail-powered cargo ship in the world as of 2025[update].[3][4][5]
The vessel features two 1,500-square-metre (16,000 sq ft) SolidSail sails, which were developed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique.[1] The two SolidSail units are mounted on 76-metre (249 ft) masts, which can be lowered to allow passage beneath bridges and other structures with limited air-draft.[6][7] Neoliner Origin has a maximum speed of 16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h), with a cruising speed of up to 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h) using only the sails.[1] It also has fins to counter lateral drift, designed by Fouré Lagadec.[1]
Construction
Construction of the vessel began in November 2023.[8] The hull of Neoliner Origin was built at RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey, where it was launched early in 2025. Installation of the masts and sails was completed separately.[2]
After the completion of sea trials, the ship was handed over to its owner in September 2025.[8] On the ship's delivery journey from Turkey to Saint-Nazaire, Neoliner Origin paused in Bastia for its first loading operation.[8]
First transatlantic voyage
Neoliner Origin's first transatlantic voyage was completed in October 2025, taking eight days from Saint-Nazaire to Saint Pierre and Miquelon (off the Canadian coast) en route to Baltimore.[9]
Among the cargo on the maiden voyage was a shipment from French cosmetics company Clarins. Clarins and Neoline have been in partnership since 2021 seeking more sustainable shipping.[10][11]