France commits to sail roros
French car manufacturer Renault is to get 80-90% reduction in CO2 emissions transporting its vehicles on newly commissioned sail roros when they start to deliver in 2021.
Nantes-based Neoline, which is developing industrial-scale wind-powered freight services, has selected Neopolia from the Loire region of France to build two sail roros with the first one due for delivery two years from now.
The first line will connect Saint-Nazaire on France’s west coast to the American east coast and Saint-Pierre & Miquelon with Renault committing to use the service.
Michel Pery, president of Neoline, commented yesterday: “We are convinced that sailing propulsion is a new sector of excellence for French shipbuilding with strong development potential.”