‘World’s first’ commercial sailing RoRo ship launched in Türkiye

Neoliner Origin, described as ‘the world’s first’ commercial sailing roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel, has been launched at RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Türkiye.

The 136-meter-long and 24.2-meter-wide sailing cargo ship is being built for the French shipping company Neoline.

Construction on the ship started in November 2023 and a keel laying ceremony for the newbuild took place in February 2024.

The innovative ship is to be equipped with nearly 3,000 square meters of sail and two foldable 76-meter-high Solidsail carbon masts manufactured by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Once completed, it will also feature retractable anti-drift plans made by Fouré Lagadec and a weather routing system developed by D-ICE Engineering.

The newbuilding has a loading capacity of 1,200 linear meters, or 265 20′ containers, for a maximum cargo weight of 5,300 tonnes. On the passenger side, the Neoliner can accommodate 12 people in six double cabins, in addition to the 13 crew members.

According to Neoline, its transport solution can reduce GHG emissions by up to 90 percent on an ocean crossing, and eliminate SOx and NOx emissions.

“With the great initiative of Neoline Armateurs, the project sprang to life in 2023 with a vision for a greener, more sustainable future. This extraordinary 136-meter vessel will reduce fossil fuel consumption by over 80% and will harness the power of the wind as its primary driving force,” RMK Marine said in a LinkedIn update.

By summer 2025, Neoliner Origin is expected to be operational, designed to carry a wide variety of cargo: rolling equipment, containers, oversized goods, or pallets. Its route will connect Saint-Nazaire to Baltimore, with scheduled stops in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Halifax (Canada). The christening ceremony is expected to take place in Nantes in July 2025.

Neoliner Origin is one of many windships ordered by French companies. In France, wind propulsion witnessed strong growth in 2024. The country’s sailing fleet now comprises eleven large cargo ships, with four new wind-powered vessels added to the fleet in 2024, Association Wind Ship recently revealed.

Moreover, a total of fifteen vessels featuring wind propulsion are under construction, the French association, which brings together around 60 local players actively involved in the development of ship propulsion by wind, said.

Read more Wind ship propulsion in maritime: 2024 was a year to remember Neoline finds work for wind-powered sailing RoRo ships Neoline picks Solid Sail solution for its first sailing cargo ship ———————————————————————————————- Note: The article was amended on February 3, 2025, by providing a hyperlink to the video of the ship’s launching ceremony.