MICHELIN Group recently signed a transportation commitment with French startup Neoline to transport containers full of tyres on sailing ships across the Atlantic.
Neoline’s decarbonised shipping service will rely on wind energy as the main propulsion for its 136-metre-long cargo ships with 4200 square metres of sails.
The company said these vessels will reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to the trans-Atlantic maritime freight by 90%.
The transport commitment signed by Michelin concerns the transport by sailing cargo ships of tires loaded in containers from Halifax (Canada) to Saint-Nazaire – Montoir de Bretagne (France) on the pilot line opened by Neoline, which will also serve the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as well as Baltimore.
Neoline plans to open its transatlantic line with a first operating vessel in 2023. With the arrival of a second vessel, scheduled a year later. The company will gradually work up to transporting 50% of Michelin’s containers transported on the line.
Michelin Group supply chain director Pierre-Martin Huet said the first commitment concerns eastbound flow and comes in addition to an already well filled order book in the westbound direction.
“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,” he said.
Neoline president said the company is working on different options available to start the construction of the first vessel as soon as possible.
With this new commitment, NEOLINE is positioning itself as an ambassador for the energy transition of the supply chains of major French industry leaders,” he said.
“Neoline’s solution, by significantly reducing the impact of maritime transport, contributes to achieving the sustainable development objectives of France and the International Maritime Organization.”
