LAUNCH OF NEOLINER ORIGIN: A NEW MILESTONE TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MARITIME TRANSPORT

The Neoliner Origin Project: A Revolution in Maritime Transport

A Bold Vision Turned Reality

The Neoliner project represents the culmination of a collaboration initiated in 2016 between MAURIC and NEOLINE. At the heart of this initiative: the ambition to revolutionise maritime transport by offering an environmentally responsible Ro-Ro transport solution, capable of reducing fuel consumption by 80 to 90% compared to conventional vessels.

The development of innovative technologies such as composite material masts and sails, the implementation of anti-drift plans, and weather routing systems offers new perspectives for the development of vessels with wind assistance or propulsion.

It was by betting on these developments that Neoline and MAURIC began developing the Neoliner 136 nearly 10 years ago, first by developing a detailed preliminary design of the vessel, allowing Neoline to promote its concept to shippers and finalise its business model.

These preliminary studies, initiated with a Duplex rig and soft sails, then from 2022 with the Solid Sail rig developed in the meantime by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, enabled the development of industrial solutions meeting Neoline's and its clients' specifications: to transport heavy or large-dimension packages efficiently and safely on transatlantic voyages.

This project stands out because its specifications and design choices are all oriented towards maximising wind propulsion efficiency and reducing energy consumption. It is indeed a vessel specifically designed and built for wind propulsion, not merely a cargo ship equipped with rigging.

As Vincent Seguin, President of MAURIC and naval architect in charge of the Neoliner 136 concept design, emphasises: "This project stands out tanks to both its specifications and design choices that are all oriented towards maximising wind propulsion efficiency and reducing energy consumption. From the very first sketches, we have worked in close collaboration with the Neoline team to design a vessel specifically for wind propulsion, not merely a cargo ship equipped with rigging."

In January 2023, RMK MARINE entrusted MAURIC with all the vessel's design studies (Basic & Detailed Design) and technical assistance for the vessel's construction.

For 2 years, the MAURIC team, consisting of experienced naval architects, engineers, and design draughtsmen, has been able to develop and optimise the vessel's design, integrate the two rigs, and validate performance.

In May 2023, after parametric optimisation of the hull through CFD calculations, we conducted tank tests at Force Technologies in Denmark and then at MARIN in the Netherlands, to validate and optimise the vessel's form plan and validate its seakeeping and manoeuvrability.

Performance calculations were also conducted, aimed at refining the expected performance of the Neoliner Origin under sail and in hybrid sail + engine operation, and optimising its mechanical propulsion, appendages, etc. This study was able to capitalise on tank test results, thus offering performance prediction at a very high level of fidelity.

We then conducted general studies for classification society validation, particularly structural plans. For a 136m long cargo vessel with a 7.65m high garage and incorporating two 70m high foldable masts, the technical challenge of designing the vessel's structure was particularly high.

Numerous finite element calculations enabled optimisation of the vessel's structure to maintain the 5,300t carrying capacity, transfer the rigging loads to the main deck, and respect the vessel's dimensional constraints.


The launch of the Neoliner 136 on this 31 January 2025 is an important milestone in this project. We were very pleased to be represented by Vincent Seguin, MAURIC President, Gilles Violleau, Naval Architect and Neoliner 136 Project Manager at MAURIC, and Henri Bonnier, Naval Engineer and responsible for the Neoliner 136 structural design.

"Finally seeing the Neoliner Origin afloat today, after nearly 2 years of work on its design, is a moment that is both impressive and moving," says Gilles Violleau.

"After following its construction for the past 15 months, witnessing its launch remains a special moment. The RMK MARINE teams have done a superb job at an impressive speed," according to Henri Bonnier.

The vessel's outfitting phase remains, and sea trials should begin in May/June 2025, with delivery following shortly after and a first Saint-Nazaire – Baltimore crossing planned for August 2025.

With a commercial speed of 11 knots under sail, fuel consumption will be reduced by 80% on its Atlantic crossing. This MAURIC design will surpass in capacity all wind-propelled vessels currently in operation. Hybrid propulsion remains present as backup mechanical propulsion, for low wind situations and port manoeuvres.

Extensive data will be collected aboard this vessel during initial voyages to refine the models that enabled its design. Based on this proven data, we will be able to confirm, improve our models, and increase the general quality of our sailing vessel designs to make them efficient, manoeuvrable with a reduced crew, punctual at stopovers, but above all energy-efficient, sustainable, and more environmentally friendly.

As the architect of the Neoliner Origin, MAURIC confirms its position as a major player in the decarbonisation of maritime transport and services.

Whether as main propulsion or propulsion assistance, as for the 54m Maritime Affairs patrol vessel (PAMNG –News_PAMNG) that we won at the end of 2024, we are convinced of wind propulsion's potential for decarbonising low-speed maritime operations. On the 54m PAMNG patrol vessel, wind assistance will be provided by a fully automated and retractable 170m² thick sail.

MAURIC is also working on other vessel projects with wind propulsion or assistance using other technologies such as Flettner rotors, kites, or suction sails. These projects, confidential at this stage, should help reduce the carbon footprint of several shipowners' maritime operations, reducing CO2 emissions by several hundred tonnes.

Still committed to developing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions, we continue to support shipowners wishing to decarbonise their operations through R&D projects and industrial projects such as the ALBA Zero-emission hydrogen training vessel delivered in November 2024 (News_Alba).

We look forward to seeing you in June 2025 for the Neoliner Origin sea trials and in July for its arrival at its home port of Saint-Nazaire.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions and Capacities

• Overall length: 136 metres
• Beam: 24.2 metres
• Draft: 5.5 metres (12 metres with daggerboards)
• Air draft: 88.2 metres (42 metres with lowered masts)
• Crew capacity: 20 people + 12 passengers
• Load capacity: 5,300 tonnes
• Rolling lane length: 1,130 metres
• Container capacity: 265 TEU

Performance

• Commercial speed under sail: 11 knots
• Maximum speed under sail: 16 knots
• Maximum engine speed: 14.9 knots @100% MCR + booster
• Cruising engine speed: 13.5 knots @85% MCR

• Range: 7,000 nautical miles

Innovative Hybrid Propulsion System

The Neoliner Origin combines:

• Two 1,500 m² Solid Sails developed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique
• Foldable masts for bridge passage

• Hybrid diesel-electric propulsion

        - 1 x 3180 kW diesel engine

        - 1 x 900 kW electric engine

• Electrical production: 2 x 665 kVA

Project Partners

Main Stakeholders