Windcoop, the cooperative financing a sailing cargo ship

To decarbonize maritime transport, a French activist cooperative has been created to launch a cargo sailing ship company.

The project is no longer a utopia; it is about to set sail. It will still be necessary to wait until 2026 for the first decarbonized shipping line connecting Marseille to Madagascar, but the first sailing ship will start construction in 2024. So, in which months? The project study is already entrusted to the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau (Finistère).

Recall the facts: Windcoop is a militant cooperative aiming to decarbonize freight shipping, which is responsible for 3% of the planet’s polluting emissions. But beyond pollution, human conditions are also under scrutiny; the Indian, Chinese, or Philippine companies, the largest in the sector, are not very attentive to working conditions.

Currently, Windcoop is composed of 1,217 “co-shipowners,” a name given to militants participating in the cooperative funding of the project. This amounts to €5.534 million raised. A new fundraising round will be necessary to finalize the project, and the search for new supporters is ongoing to keep things moving.

The Windcoop sailing cargo ship will be 85 meters long and capable of carrying 100 containers (including 20 refrigerated for fragile products), totaling 1,400 tons of goods per voyage. The CO2 savings will be 90% compared to a standard cargo ship, as Windcoop will be equipped with a motor for maneuvering and to pass through zones without wind. The cruising speed will be about 8 knots, roughly 15 km/h.

Ultimately, the goal is to have multiple vessels to expand maritime routes toward Africa, Asia, and South America.

In addition to the crew, 12 tourists will be able to travel on the Wincoop to reduce their carbon footprint while traveling.

To become a member of Wincoop, it’s happening here.

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