French shipping company Neoline has inaugurated a new Ro-Ro sailing cargo ship built by RMK Marine Shipyard of Turkey.
Neoliner Origin was designed by French naval architecture firm Mauric as a Ro-Ro cargo vessel with wind propulsion as her primary power source.
According to Mauric, extensive data will be collected aboard this vessel during initial voyages to refine the models that enabled her design.
Mauric said that, based on the data, it will be able to confirm, improve its models, and increase the general quality of its sailing vessel designs to make them efficient, manoeuvrable with a reduced crew as well as energy-efficient, sustainable, and more environmentally friendly.
Neoliner Origin has an LOA of 136 metres, a beam of 24.2 metres, a draught of 5.5 metres, and space for 1,130 metres of freight as well as 12 passengers in addition to her crew of 20.
The two sails developed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique will enable the ship to reach speeds of up to 16 knots. The sails are mounted on foldable masts that will enable safe passage underneath bridges.
A hybrid propulsion setup consisting of a diesel engine and an electric motor is also fitted, and this can deliver speeds of up to 14.9 knots at 100 per cent MCR and a range of 7,000 nautical miles.