French decarbonised maritime logistics specialist Grain de Sail has announced plans to construct its third cargo sailboat, the ‘Grain de Sail III’.
This pure sailing vessel will be a 110m container ship, scheduled for launch in 2027, which is designed to be capable of transporting about 200 TEU with a maximum cargo capacity of 3,000t, crossing the Atlantic in around 13 days.
Oliver Barreau, Co-Founder and President, Grain de Sail said: “With Grain de Sail III, we are displaying our ambitions and strengthening our leadership in the decarbonized maritime transport segment. To make wind-powered transport accessible, we need to change scale, and that’s what we’re about to do with a pure sailing container ship.”
The vessel will carry about 4000m2 of sail, and operate with a crew of 10, and is intended to achieve a decarbonisation rate of over 90%. Its maximum air draught of 62.5m will allow it to pass under bridges along major maritime routes (Verrazzano Bridge, Panama Canal, etc.). Its retractable daggerboards will ensure good upwind performance while limiting its draught at the dock.
The goal is to design a near-passive vessel through strong insulation. Powerful hydrogenation technologies already developed for cargo sailing ships by Grain de Sail will ensure autonomous and decarbonised production of onboard energy. As with Grain de Sail II, a wood pellet boiler will provide heating and hot water for the crew’s comfort.
Grain de Sail’s operational experience gained through its first two cargo sailing ships has provided essential feedback to the industry. With Grain de Sail III, the company seeks to offer concrete solutions based on its assessment of the needs and limitations of wind propulsion. The Grain de Sail III, registered under the French International Register (RIF), will meet the needs for wind-powered maritime transport identified by the company over several years.
Image: ‘Grain de Sail III’ (source: Grain de Sail/Business Wire)
