February 4th, 2020

The Sogestran group and the COMPAGNIE MARITIME NANTAISE - MN associate with NEOLINE for the forthcoming construction of its first transatlantic sailing freighter.

The Sogestran group, together with its subsidiary COMPAGNIE MARITIME NANTAISE - MN, will accompany NEOLINE in financing its first ships and in setting up the pilot line.

This merger between the two shipowners from Nantes underlines the audacity of companies settled in the Pays de la Loire region and reinforces its industrial and maritime potential.

• For NEOLINE, the arrival of a leading player in the maritime and river sectors enables it to benefit from a recognised expertise for the launch of its innovative 136m length sailing cargo ships using sails as main propulsion, in which Sogestran will also be one of the reference investors.
• For the COMPAGNIE MARITIME NANTAISE - MN, which will be the operational partner of NEOLINE, this association will allow the development of its ship management and operation management activities on behalf of a third party, with a strong opening to the energy transition.
• For Sogestran, this investment is part of the Group’s maritime ambition. The association with NEOLINE will allow the Sogestran group to accelerate the energy and environmental improvement of its activities, at the same time as its positioning around the values to which the Group is already committed.

Being spotted out for its impact on the environment, the maritime transport sector is today facing intense regulatory and societal pressure to accelerate its energy transition.

NEOLINE’s shipowner model, based on energy performance with the use of wind energy as the main propulsion of its vessels, a commercial speed of 11 knots, trained and involved crews associated with advanced meteorological routing systems, aims to 90% reduction in consumption and therefore associated pollutant emissions. These ships will also be able to test a range of complementary technologies to move towards Zero Emission in the medium term, in line with France’s stated objective for 2050 in the 2017 climate plan.

With the support of leading players such as Renault Group, Manitou Group and Groupe Beneteau, who have demonstrated the logistical and economic relevance of the new service for the region’s industrials, NEOLINE plans to place an order for the building of the first vessel with SAS NEOPOLIA MOBILITY in the near future, so that the pilot line can be commissioned as soon as possible.

> Access to press release

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