Clermont-Ferrand, France, March 4, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Michelin has recently signed a letter of commitment for maritime transport with Neoline, a French shipowner, on the Canada-France line. The move is considered Michelin’s significant step towards decarbonizing its logistics operations, which will greatly contribute to its ambitious goal of attaining zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
The decarbonized shipping service of Neoline, the French start-up offering innovative carbon-free shipping services, relies on clean and renewable wind energy as the main propulsion for its 136-meter-long cargo ships with 4200m2 sails. This is an innovative and unique solution, open to all shippers, which will reduce the CO2 emissions related to transatlantic maritime freight transport by 90%.
Pierre-Martin Huet, Michelin Group Supply Chain Director, said: “This new partnership marks the first step in carbon-free shipping, which is fully in line with the CSR strategy of Michelin’s operations. It will contribute to achieving the objective of reducing CO2 emissions from logistics by 15% in absolute terms between 2018 and 2030.”
Jean Zanuttini, President of NEOLINE, added: “We are honored to welcome on board the Michelin Group, an emblematic French player strongly committed to innovation and sustainable mobility. This first commitment concerns Eastbound flow (from the Americas to Europe) and comes in addition to the Westbound route (from Europe to the Americas). With our sailing cargo ships, we are developing a mode of transport that is more environmentally friendly, adapted to the current economic and logistical reality of shippers and not dependent on fossil fuels.”
This commitment signed by Michelin concerns the transport of tires loaded in containers, by sailing cargo ships from Halifax (Canada) to Saint-Nazaire – Montoir de Bretagne (France) on the pilot line opened by NEOLINE, which will also serve the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as well as Baltimore (USA).
NEOLINE plans to inaugurate its transatlantic line with its first operating vessel in 2023. With the arrival of a second vessel, scheduled a year later, the Michelin group will gradually entrust NEOLINE with at least 50% of the group’s containers transported on this line.
About NEOLINE
NEOLINE was founded in 2015 by a group of maritime professionals convinced of the necessary evolution of shipping towards a more responsible maritime transport. NEOLINE’s ambition is to become the first shipowner oriented towards energy sobriety, relying on main propulsion under sail. The Sogestran Group, and its subsidiary Cie Maritime Nantaise, have joined NEOLINE in 2020.
About Michelin
Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has more than 127,000 employees and operates 69 tire production facilities which together produced around 200 million tires in 2019.