World’s largest sailing cargo ship launches maiden voyage to decarbonize global shipping

The maritime industry is witnessing a potential revolution as the Neoliner Origin, the world’s largest sailing cargo ship, embarked on its groundbreaking inaugural voyage from France to the United States. This two-week journey represents a bold attempt to transform one of the planet’s most carbon-intensive industries—global shipping—which currently accounts for nearly 3% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel’s maiden voyage got off to a dramatic start when what ship host Michel Péry initially dismissed as a mere “tempête de journalistes” (journalists’ storm) turned into a full-scale hurricane. The eight journalists aboard found themselves gripping their dinner plates as 74-mph winds—officially classified as force 12 hurricane conditions—battered the ship through a harrowing night. The experience served as an immediate reminder of both the ocean’s power and the challenges facing this ambitious green shipping experiment.

The Neoliner Origin represents a modern renaissance of wind-powered commercial transport, combining traditional sailing principles with cutting-edge technology to drastically reduce shipping emissions. As global trade continues to grow and climate targets tighten, the success of vessels like the Neoliner could determine whether the shipping industry can transition away from its heavy reliance on fossil fuels. While one stormy night doesn’t determine the project’s future, it certainly provided an authentic test of the ship’s capabilities and the commitment of those aboard to pioneer a cleaner future for maritime transport.