Image: Tom van Oossanen
In a remarkable breakthrough for the maritime industry, the world’s first hybrid electric/thermal-powered industrial vessel, Canopée, has taken its maiden voyage. This pioneering cargo ship, equipped with collapsible wings, is set to revolutionize industrial shipping and contribute to the decarbonization efforts of the sector.
Developed in response to ArianeGroup’s logistical demands, Canopée embarks on a mission to transport parts of the Ariane 6 launcher from European ports to the Pariacabo port in Kourou, French Guiana, for the next 15 years. As a program under the European Space Agency (ESA), Ariane 6’s development, production, and marketing are overseen by ArianeGroup and its subsidiary Arianespace.
The maritime industry faces a pressing challenge with its contribution of 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, while 90% of global goods are transported by sea. Amidst a 250% increase in transported goods over the past four decades, the need to decarbonize shipping has become ever more urgent. Canopée’s emergence as a hybrid cargo vessel with both diesel propulsion and wind assistance holds the promise of reducing fuel consumption by around 30%, significantly curtailing its carbon footprint.
Wind assistance, a unique feature of Canopée, harnesses the limitless power of wind to aid in reducing the ship’s environmental impact. By adopting this “opportunistic” approach, the vessel manages to tackle environmental concerns without compromising its commercial efficiency.
The Canopée project, an embodiment of collective intelligence, took six years to come to fruition. It began with ArianeGroup’s tender in 2018, aiming to find an environmentally-friendly logistics solution for the Ariane 6 project. The partnership between naval architecture firm VPLP Design and sailing freight transport pioneer Zéphyr & Borée birthed the concept of using collapsible wings to cut fossil fuel consumption. Jifmar Offshore Services, known for innovative projects, provided the expertise and financial backing to turn this vision into reality.
The collaborative efforts of Jifmar Offshore Services, Zéphyr & Borée, and others led to the formation of Alizés, a joint venture that secured the ArianeGroup tender in 2019. Alizés now operates Canopée commercially, revolutionizing maritime transport while exemplifying the proverb, “Alone we go faster, together we go further.”
This cutting-edge vessel not only demonstrates the potential of wind propulsion in decarbonizing maritime transport but also emphasizes the power of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals. With Canopée leading the way, the maritime industry takes a bold step towards a more responsible and eco-friendly future.