Michelin to ship its tires under sail
Michelin has committed to transport its tires on two sail-cargo vessels being developed by French shipping line Neoline.
Leading-tire manufacturer, Michelin, is preparing to start shipping at least some of its tires on two specially designed sail-cargo vessels. Under an agreement with French shipping line, Neoline, tires will be loaded in containers and shipped from Michelin’s facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Saint-Nazaire, France. The companies hope to have the ships operational by 2023.
Michelin is committed to zero-carbon emissions by 2050 and the two innovative Bermudan biplane-rigged staysail schooners will be 136-meters long and have a capacity of 500 cars and 280 containers. With 4,200 square meters of sail area and auxiliary engines, Neoline believes the vessels will reach a speed of at least 11 knots. When the two vessels become operational, Michelin says is can commit to transport 50% of its tires on the Halifax to St-Nazaire route under sail.
“This initiative and this new partnership promote innovation in the field of carbon-free transport. This first step in carbon-free shipping is fully in line with the CSR strategy of Michelin’s operations. It will contribute to achieving the objective of reducing CO2 emissions from logistics by 15% in absolute terms between 2018 and 2030,” said Pierre-Martin Huet, Michelin Group Supply Chain Director.
France-based Neoline was started in 2015 and specialises in modern, cutting-edge sail cargo vessels. Jean Zanuttini, President of Neoline said: “This first commitment concerns Eastbound flow (from the Americas to Europe) and comes in addition to an already well-filled order book in Westbound direction (from Europe to the Americas)… With our sailing cargo ships, we are developing a mode of transport that is more environmentally friendly, adapted to the current economic and logistical reality of shippers and not dependent on fossil fuels.”
Neoline initially chose French shipyard Neopolia Marine to construct the two vessels in 2019, but Zanuttini has indicated that construction has yet to commence and says: “With our partners, we are currently working on the different options available to start the construction of our first vessel as soon as possible.”
