International logistics giant DHL announced that it will cooperate with a French company that operates wind-driven cargo ships to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the freight sector. Two companies revealed to the Wall Street Journal's Sustainable Business Professional Edition that DHL Global Forwarding, DHL's professional freight division, will use Vera's wind-powered ships to carry out freight operations next year.
DHL plans to use this wind-powered ship to carry out transatlantic freight from next year
This type of ship is a trimaran (having three hulls), is 220 feet long, and can carry 415 tons of cargo. Its cargo capacity is approximately five times that of a cargo aircraft, but its hull length is only one-fifth that of a conventional container ship. Michel Fernandez-Ferry, co-founder of Vera, said that the ship is made of aluminum alloy, and its lightweight properties can help the ship speed up. The design target speed is about 14 knots (equivalent to 16 miles per hour).
"This is essentially a giant sailing ship," he said. "We rely on wind energy and rely entirely on wind power to power the ship."
Conventional ocean-going cargo ships usually follow fixed routes across the Atlantic Ocean, but this trimaran will avoid conventional channels and choose the optimal sailing route according to the wind direction. The transatlantic voyage on this alternative route would take about two weeks; a regular container ship would take about nine days, and air cargo would take just eight hours.
"We will not sail along the straight-line route from France to the United States, but will flexibly adjust the route according to the wind direction." He said.
Vera's other co-founder is professional yachtsman François Gabbar, whom Fernandez-Ferry calls "the Michael Jordan of sailing." In 2017, Gabar set a record for solo circumnavigation, completing the journey in less than 43 days.
At a time when oil prices are soaring due to the conflict in Iran, the appeal of such wind-powered cargo ships has greatly increased. Vera said that depending on the route, this series of ships can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99% compared to air cargo, and up to 90% compared to traditional shipping.
Laurent Terrell, President of DHL Global Forwarding France, said: "As a leading company in the global logistics industry, DHL has always been committed to promoting the decarbonization transformation of the transportation industry and constantly enriching green logistics solutions for customers."
DHL said that the trimaran wind cargo ship will supplement the traditional freight business, and the company aims to expand diversified transportation options for customers.
The first commercial cargo shipments on the Atlantic route are expected to sail in 2027. In addition to DHL cargo, other companies can also book space to sail on Vera's trimaran. For example, Vera has reached cooperation with Japan's Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
This type of trimaran can carry various types of goods such as medicine, wine, and cosmetics. Currently, these ships are still in the construction stage, and Vera plans to put five trimarans into operation by 2030 to achieve the goal of one weekly transoceanic cargo shipment.