GOOD NEWS If freighters go sailing again

It is called “Neoliner Origin” and it is the largest new-generation sailing cargo ship. Launched in Turkey in January 2025, she set sail on October 16 for her first Atlantic crossing, from France to the United States.

Commercial shipping is now responsible for 7 percent of the world’s oil consumption and 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with projections that this could rise to 17 percent by 2050. Faced with the scarcity of alternative fuels, wind propulsion even for cargo ships is proposed as an immediately available, clean and renewable solution.

This is demonstrated by the “Neoliner Origin” project, the largest (140 meters overall length) new generation wind-powered cargo ship. In fact, this new flagship of the maritime transport decarbonization process uses high-performance and fully recyclable sails that take advantage of 4T FORTE technology, developed and produced entirely in Italy by Flexon Composites exclusively for OneSails.

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“Neoliner Origin”: the ship of the future

After being launched last January 2025 in Tuzla, Turkey, the “Neoliner Origin” entered service at 02:37 a.m. on Oct. 16 for her first Atlantic crossing on the Saint-Nazaire (France) – Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (France) – Halifax (Canada) – Baltimore (U.S.) route, ushering in a new era for commercial sailing.

The “Neoliner Origin” project was created by Neoline, a company founded by Merchant Navy officers, with the goal of offering truly decarbonized maritime services based on efficiency and the use of wind as the primary source of propulsion.

Tilting carbon masts and 3,000 meters of sails

With a carrying capacity of 1,200 linear meters (or 265 TEUs) up to 5,300 tons, the ship incorporates a unique combination of advanced technical solutions: two rigid “Solid Sail” wings of 1,050 square meters each, installed on 90-meter-high tilting carbon masts (which can be reduced to 41.5 meters to pass under the decks) and two of the three jibs made of 4T FORTE, of 450 square meters each that complete the sail plan with a key contribution in terms of thrust and aerodynamic balance. The total sail area reaches 3,000 square meters.

Among the various on-board devices is an advanced weather routing system developed by D-ICE, while in motor maneuvers the ship can rely on a 3,300 + 900 kW diesel-electric hybrid propulsion. The combination of operational efficiency and innovative technologies makes it possible to cut fuel consumption and emissions by up to 80 percent.

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Do you want to make the Atlantic emission-free? Get on board!

“The decision to choose 4T FORTE technology for the ‘Neoliner Origin’ project,” explains engineer Piercarlo Molta, CEO of Flexon Composites and coordinator of research and development at OneSails, “was inspired not only by criteria of environmental sustainability, but also by the need to ensure maximum reliability under extreme operating conditions. Indeed, sails made with 4T FORTE technology will be subjected to exceptionally high loads, and their design is the result of months of in-depth analysis, advanced simulations and rigorous testing.”

Finally, the “Neoline Origin” also has 6 double cabins for guests who want to experience a sustainable Atlantic crossing. All info at: https://www.voilasailcoop.fr/en/the-transatlantic-home.