Grain de Sail has unveiled the design of the cargo vessel, reportedly able to carry around 200 containers while achieving a decarbonization rate of over 90% according to the company.
The new wind-powered container ship, Grain de Sail III with its retractable daggerboards aims to boost upwind performance while limiting its draft at the dock. The goal is to design a near-passive vessel through strong insulation. Moreover, its maximum air draft of 62.5 meters will allow it to pass under bridges along major maritime routes (Verrazzano Bridge, Panama Canal, etc.).
Powerful hydrogeneration technologies already developed for cargo sailing ships by the company will ensure autonomous and decarbonized production of the onboard energy, Grain de Sail claims.
Furthermore, the company notes that the reduction of carbon footprint will be over 90%, with emissions between 1 and 2 grams of CO2 per ton of cargo transported per kilometer traveled, which is 10 to 20 times less than the current fleet.
In 2020, Grain de Sail became the first shipowner in the world to design and operate a modern cargo sailing ship. The 24-meter-long vessel capable of loading 50 tons in its holds has traveled the equivalent of three times around the world on transatlantic voyages, serving as a foundation for Grain de Sail’s following projects.
In January 2024, the company inaugurated its second cargo sailing ship, Grain de Sail II. At 52 meters long, it more than doubled the length of its predecessor, with a carrying capacity of 350 tons—nearly 300 pallets in the hold and 24 barrels on deck.
