World’s largest sailing cargo ship of modern history to set sail

LONDON : Anemos, the world’s largest sailing cargo ship, has set sail on its inaugural voyage from Concarneau, South Brittany.

The pioneering vessel, developed by TransOceanic Wind Transport (TOWT) and built by the PIRIOU shipyard, is set to arrive in Le Havre early next week. After loading operations, Anemos will travel to New York City, scheduled around August 20, 2024.

The delivery of Anemos represents a key milestone in the maritime industry. This cutting-edge vessel, measuring 81 meters long, 15 meters wide, and 63 meters high, is the first of eight planned sailing cargo ships.

Anemos, using advanced sail technology from ocean racing and automated rigging, aims to transform shipping by reducing its environmental impact.

TOWT Managing Director Diana Mesa expressed her excitement, stating that after more than two years at the shipyard, they are excited to take the delivery and embark on the first commercial voyage. Anemos is a significant step toward decarbonizing global shipping. The vessel’s primary mode of propulsion will be wind power, which is predicted to lower CO2 emissions by up to 100% and drastically reduce other pollutants such as sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. This shift to sailing promises to have a lower impact on biodiversity and ocean acidification than traditional engine-powered vessels.