World’s First Wind-Powered Container Ship To Sail Between France & Madagascar

Windcoop, a French maritime cooperative based in Lorient, has placed an order for the world’s first wind-powered container ship.

The vessel, designed for trade between France and Madagascar, will be built by RMK Marine in Turkey. The construction work is set to begin in 2026, with delivery and commissioning expected by May 2027.

The ship will operate using rigid sails instead of conventional fuel-based propulsion.

The 91.3 meter-long vessel will have a carrying capacity of 210 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), including 40 reefer plugs for refrigerated cargo.

The ship will have a total sail area of 1,050 square meters propelled by three rigid wing sails, each measuring 350 square meters.

It is expected to achieve an average sailing speed of 9 knots and cut carbon emissions by 60% compared to conventional cargo ships.

One of the main challenges in designing the vessel was balancing wind propulsion with cargo operations. Windcoop has opted for an open-hatch design with asymmetrical sails and cranes positioned opposite the sails.

This setup ensures the vessel remains stable while allowing full autonomy for loading and unloading operations.

Windcoop is structured as a SCIC (collective interest cooperative society), making it a unique shipping company owned by citizens, businesses, and institutional investors.

The idea came from discussions between Windcoop’s founders and cooperative activist Julien Noe, who questioned traditional shipping models and sought a more ethical alternative.

The cooperative structure ensures that profits are reinvested into the business rather than distributed among shareholders.

Under SCIC regulations, 57.5% of profits must be reinvested, shares cannot offer returns exceeding 2%, and capital gains from share sales are prohibited.

The total cost of constructing this innovative vessel is €28.5 million ($31.5 million).

The fund has been secured through a structured loan from Credit Maritime Grand Ouest-Banque Populaire, with a counter-guarantee from Bpifrance.

€6.8 million ($7.5 million) has been raised through Windcoop’s cooperative model, which includes 1,600 citizen investors, shippers, and financial backers.

Notable contributors include:

Committed Shippers: Arcadie, Valrhona, Cafes Richard, Prova, Ethiquable, Demand, Arawak, Lobodis
Investors: La Nef, Bretagne Capital Solidaire, Credit Mutuel Arkea, SIDI, Inddigo, Mer Invest

This is the first cargo ship of its size to be partially funded through a citizen-driven cooperative model. After the launch of the first vessel, the company is already planning for a second ship to ensure a monthly service frequency.

Reference: Windcoop

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