French designer and shipowner of new-gen cargo sailboats Vela has unveiled the design of the first-ever trimaran cargo ship powered 100% by wind power.
The design of the ocean racing-inspired three-hull vessel has been in development since September 2022 and production is set to start early 2024. When built, the vessel will transport goods across the Atlantic Ocean using only wind power. Vela believes that the first vessel will be launched in 2025.
The Vela team claims that this new design will provide a 99% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in propulsion compared to conventional containerships. The company also believes that the trimaran design will enhance vessel stability and cargo safety. The ship designer added that the trimaran will be able to accommodate up to 450 US pallets – equivalent to 51 teu or 560 EU pallets.
The vessel will also have a lesser environmental impact than other cargo ships by being built with recycled aluminum with interiors made from bio-sourced and geo-sourced materials. All components of the ship have also been designed to be dismantled for reuse on other Vela ships or other purposes.
The first of these vessels is expected to make its maiden voyage in mid-2025, sailing the transatlantic route between Europe and the United States. Vela guarantees a warehouse-to-warehouse timeframe of 10-15 days, including loading, transit, and unloading, which places it in between conventional air and sea freight. Looking ahead, Vela aims to have a departure from France to the USA and vice versa every nine days by 2028.
“Choosing the France-USA seaway was a no-brainer. The United States is the second-largest export destination for French luxury products. Moreover, the wind is plentiful and predictable in the North Atlantic,” said Michael Fernandez-Ferri, co-founder of Vela.
With this design, Vela joins a myriad of compatriot companies which have been developing sail-powered cargo ships in recent years. Just this year, Zephyr & Borée ordered five wind-assisted 1,300 teu boxships while tire manufacturer Michelin secured approval in principle from DNV for its automated, telescopic, inflatable wing sail system for ships.
Other French firms involved with wind-related projects include Airseas, TransOceanic Wind Transport, CRAIN Technologies, and Grain de Sail among others.
In 1976 Christopher Hook, the inventor of the Hydrofoil was working on a design for wind powered cargo vessels.