As part of its CSR approach and in a bid to reduce its environmental impact, the Manitou group, a form specializing in rough-terrain handling, confirmed its support for the NEOLINE maritime project to transport its machines to the American market. The NEOLINE Ro-Ro cargo project, powered mainly by sails, plans to use 100% clean, free, and renewable energy: The wind.
With 80% of its revenues earned internationally, the Manitou group plans to transport more than 1,000 machines by ships from Europe to the US 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.
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,
…says Augustin Merle, Transport and Logistics Manager at the Manitou group.
NEOLINE is developing a highly-fuel efficient transatlantic transport line, thanks to innovative sailing vessels that will specialize in rolling and oversized goods. With start-up expected in 2021, this line will connect St-Nazaire with the American east coast and Saint-Pierre & Miquelon.
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,
…noted Michel PERY, President of NEOLINE.
NEOLINE eyes a maritime transport solution that is equal to today’s environmental challenges, so it 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% of CO2 emissions, compared to traditional cargo on an equivalent route.
The NEOLINE vessel will use primary wind propulsion, in conjunction with economical speed and optimization of the energy mix. This 136m long ro-ro vessel with 4,200 m² of sails combines technical maritime transport solutions with solutions from sport sailing in an innovative way.
The development plan expects to build two ships of this model, with a commissioning goal of 2021.
