Cacao processing company Grain de Sail, of Morlaix, France, has signed a contract with the Piriou shipyard to build a second pure-sail zero-emission ship.
The company began operating a sailing vessel, of 24m length and 50t capacity, in November 2020. This vessel has since carried around 55% of the cacao mass used in its chocolate factory during 2021, and the second vessel is expected to enable 100% of the raw ingredients to cross the Atlantic carbon-free for use in the chocolate factory and coffee roasting facility located in Morlaix. The new 52m long Grain de Sail 2 will offer over 350t of payload capacity, and delivery is expected at the end of 2023. The design is by L2Onaval, while Piriou will manufacture the aluminium hull in its shipyard in Vietnam while Lorima will provide the rigging and install it in Lorient, France. The ship will export wines and other products from France and Europe to the US and bring back raw ingredients, cacao mass, green coffees, etc from Latin America to France.
The cargo spaces will be arranged to carry 238 pallets loaded on two levels in two separate holds, with a separate tank for up to 18 m³ of bulk liquid and deck storage of 5 m³ for liquids in barrels.
With 1170 m² of sails, Grain de Sail 2 will be able to navigate in light wind conditions and is designed to be manoeuvred by two experienced sailors. Cabins will accommodate the nine crew members. Crossing of the Atlantic, depending on routing choices and wind conditions, is estimated at around two weeks. As well as sailing using wind power only, the ship will be equipped to use renewable energy via solar panels and hydrogenerator systems to provide electricity on board . A single small IMO Tier III-approved engine will be used during harbour manoeuvres and diesel-generators are fitted for emergency use as a backup to green energies.
Jaques Barreau, co-founder and MD Grain de Sail said: “We are pleased to enter the construction phase with two experts from Brittany such as Piriou and Lorima. We have already learned so much with our first cargo sailboat and now has come the time for Grain de Sail to prove that carbon-free maritime transportation can work on a larger scale.”
The original ship will be repurposed for coastal shipment within Europe once the new vessel is operation.
Vincent Faujour, president of Piriou Group said: “Within a few weeks this is the third sailboat awarded to Piriou which reinforces our commitment and places us at the forefront of carbon-free maritime transportation, by adding a whole range of sail-powered freighters for our clients. We thank Grain de Sail for entrusting us with this build.”
The ship is financed by Caisse d’Épargne Bretagne / Pays de Loire with FIMAR as maritime financial arranger. Bpifrance and Crédit Mutuel Equity are also participating in the financing via their recent equity investment into the Grain de Sail Group.
