World’s Largest Sailing Cargo Ship Crosses the Atlantic
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The largest sailing cargo ship in the world has made its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. It left France in early August and was on track to deliver 1,000 tonnes of cognac and champagne to New York City.
Its shipments have a carbon footprint one-tenth that of a standard containership.
“For centuries, we knew wind was abundant [over] the deep sea,” says Guillaume Le Grand, CEO of TOWT, the French company that commissioned the 266-foot-long ship, named Anemos. “But now, thanks to satellite communication and routing technology, wind is also predictable, which makes it a reliable source of propulsion.”
Anemos’ cloth sails are deployed and handled using an automated system, designed using computer simulations.
Anemos’ cloth sails are deployed and handled using an automated system. (TOWT via X)
This enables Anemos to transport 1 tonne of cargo over a kilometer while producing less than 2 grams of carbon emissions. The huge containerships that transport most of the world’s goods emit at least 20 g per tonne over 1 km.
Although Anemos primarily relies on wind power, as a backup, it has two diesel-electric engines. It is part of a planned fleet of eight ships.
The full impact of ships that use wind-assisted propulsion remains difficult to quantify. According to a report last month from U.K.-based maritime services company Lloyd’s Register, there is “uncertainty around actual fuel savings, with no standardized criteria for validating savings claims.” Potentially hidden costs of engineering work and operations also contribute to uncertainty, says the report.
The development of the sailing cargo vessel sector can help the shipping industry toward its net-zero emissions goals, says Gavin Allwright at the International Windship Association, a nonprofit organization based in the U.K.
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