Manitou Group supports NEOLINE maritime transport project for wind-powered cargo vessels

The Manitou Group is working with the NEOLINE maritime project with intent to transport its machines to the American market. This future innovative and environmentally responsible cargo line is part of the Group's corporate social responsibility approach.

The NEOLINE ro-ro cargo project, powered mainly by sails, plans to use 100 percent clean, free and renewable energy – the wind. By working with the NEOLINE project, the Manitou Group says it is continuing its innovative approach and objective of reducing its environmental impact.

With 80 percent of its revenues earned internationally, the Manitou group plans to transport more than 1,000 machines by ships from Europe to the U.S. in 2019. This new solution will optimize the dynamics of its international transport flows: efficiently distributing all of its machines and components around the world more efficiently with less environmental impact.

Augustin Merle, Transport and Logistics Manager at the Manitou group, says: "It is essential for the Manitou group that we have access to transport solutions that are both efficient and responsible. NEOLINE's proposal is a perfect fit for our operational needs. It is also viable in terms of energy consumption, saving an estimated more than 4,000 tons* of CO2 per year. With this service, we will maintain similar delivery times, while optimizing pre-routing from our factories in Grand Ouest to the port of Nantes – Saint-Nazaire."

NEOLINE is developing a highly fuel-efficient transatlantic transport line, thanks to innovative sailing vessels that will specialize in rolling and oversized goods. With startup expected in 2021, this line will connect St-Nazaire with the American east coast and Saint-Pierre & Miquelon.

Michel PERY, President of NEOLINE, says: We have developed this transatlantic line dedicated to rolling and oversized freight with cargo shippers like the Manitou group. In particular, we plan to equip our vessels with movable decks whose dimensions and resistance are perfectly suited to the machines of the Manitou group. As a strategic shipper of our future line, the support shown by the Manitou group is a concrete step forward towards the commissioning of our vessels."

To provide a maritime transport solution that is equal to today's environmental challenges, NEOLINE is developing industrial-scale sailing freight services that are clean, customized, and competitive and meet the logistical needs of shippers. Led by a team of maritime professionals, this shipowner project is making it possible to design vessels that are capable of reducing up to 90 percent of CO2 emissions, compared to traditional cargo on an equivalent route.

The NEOLINE vessel will use primarily wind propulsion.

This 136-m-long ro-ro vessel with 4,200 cubic metres of sails combines technical maritime transport solutions with solutions from sport sailing in an innovative way. This type of transport is efficient both logistically and economically, with exemplary energy savings. Two ships are being built with a completion target of 2021.

* Source: Ademe database on the consumption of ro-ro cargo ships of 0.103 kgCO2/ton.km