The Return of Commercial Cargo Sailing Ships
Modern, purpose-built commercial cargo sailing ships are now sailing trans-Atlantic routes
Early last fall, the Anemos, a new, purpose-built cargo ship powered primarily by wind, sailed on its inaugural commercial voyage from France to the USA with a high-value cargo of French wines. We hope this venture ushers in a new era of moving cargo around the world with a drastically reduced carbon footprint. It’s a big deal, as about 90% of all goods in the world get moved by ship at one point, and those ships are powered by fossil fuels.
The nautical world has been watching this development, sometimes with great skepticism, so to see the business case, the money, the construction, and a paying cargo all come together is a major milestone.
This first ship is not large compared to modern container ships, being only about the size of the famous clipper ship “Cutty Sark” on display at Greenwich in the UK. A second ship of the same design, Artemis, has now also entered service, and shipyards have orders to build a fleet of six more to enter service by 2026. Much bigger ships are also planned.
The shipping company (TOWT.eu) says several factors make it all work. One is the combination of modern materials and electronics that allows a small crew to work the ship. Another is a shorter time to load and unload compared to container ships, compensating for longer crossing time and the ability to access smaller ports. A significant factor is also the marketing value of the low carbon footprint of the transport, which can be verified through QR code links to individual voyages.
It’s a promising start to the change needed in this pivotal industry.
Reading
George, Rose. Ninety Percent of Everything: Inside Shipping, the Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes on Your Back, Gas in Your Car, and Food on Your Plate. First Edition. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2013.
TOWT - Transport à la voile. “Freight transport.” Accessed April 27, 2025. https://www.towt.eu/en/shipper/freight-transport/.
Peters, Adele. “The World’s Largest Wind-Powered Cargo Ship Just Made Its First Delivery across the Atlantic.” Fast Company, September 6, 2024. https://www.fastcompany.com/91185144/the-worlds-largest-wind-powered-cargo-ship-just-made-its-first-delivery-across-the-atlantic.