On 16 June 2026, Grain de Sail unveiled the final plans for its Grain de Sail III, a 162-metre sailing cargo ship set to revolutionise decarbonised maritime transport. With a capacity of 570 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and a 90% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to conventional maritime freight, this vessel embodies the Breton company’s ambition: to democratise large-scale, low-carbon maritime transport.

🌍 A Project Born from a Bold Vision

Founded in 2012 by brothers Olivier and Jacques Barreau, Grain de Sail began as a small Breton business specialising in food production (chocolate, coffee, rum). But its ambitions extended far beyond local manufacturing. By 2020, it had become the world’s first shipping company to design and operate a modern sailing cargo vessel compliant with international maritime standards, proving that 100% decarbonised maritime transport was possible.

With Grain de Sail I (24 m, 50 tonnes) and Grain de Sail II (52 m, 350 tonnes), the company validated its economic and technical model. However, shippers, freight forwarders, and investors demanded greater capacity, higher frequency, and lower costs. Thus, Grain de Sail III was born.

⛵ An Innovative Ship, 100% Wind-Powered

The Grain de Sail III is not just another sailing cargo ship—it represents a groundbreaking technological leap:

162 metres long, 26 metres wide, with a 6,000-tonne capacity (570 containers).
6,900 m² of sail area (featuring second-generation Solid Sail masts from Chantiers de l’Atlantique), retractable to adapt to all weather conditions.
Optimised hull for constant sailing, equipped with anti-drift appendages.
Side-loading system for containers, thermally insulated holds, and dual-flow ventilation to minimise energy loss.
100% renewable energy on board: solar panels (200 kW), hydro-generators, wood-fired heating, and battery storage.

The result? 1–2 g of CO₂ per tonne/km transported (compared to 10–20 times more for conventional fleets), saving 16,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

💡 Why Is This Project Revolutionary?

Radical decarbonisation: 90% fewer emissions than conventional maritime freight and 99% fewer than air freight.
Cost savings: Costs divided by 3 compared to Grain de Sail II (and by 9 compared to the first vessel), making it competitive with air freight.
6 annual rotations between Europe and North America, with a sustainable economic model backed by shipper commitments.
Zero noise or pollutant emissions (SOX, NOX, fine particles) at sea.
Secondary ports served: Avoiding long waits and costs associated with major hubs.

🤝 Building the Industry Together

The real challenge? Creating a market for these ships. Grain de Sail is calling for collective action:

Shippers: Commit to filling the holds!
Freight forwarders, shipping companies, investors: Join the community to accelerate the transition.
Institutions: ADEME (via the CORIMER call for projects) and BPIfrance (CMA-CGM fund) are already on board.

“The sailing industry is timeless. At Grain de Sail, we remain committed to designing pure sailing vessels to get as close as possible to carbon neutrality.” — Olivier Barreau, Co-founder and President of Grain de Sail

🚀 What’s Next?

The Grain de Sail III will be the world’s largest sailing container ship, but it’s only the beginning. The goal? To democratise decarbonised maritime transport by proving that economic performance and ecological responsibility can go hand in hand.

For more information:
🔗 Grain de Sail Website
🔗 Grain de Sail Logistics Website