New milestone reached for the Windcoop cooperative shipping company project. It announced at the end of December the official launch of the construction of its first sailing container ship, which will connect Madagascar to France.
Cutting the first sheet, carried out at the RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Türkiye, marks the concrete start of the construction site. While all other sailing freighters, in service and planned, are intended to sail in the Atlantic, Miaraka will be the first to reach the Indian Ocean. “The cutting of the first sheet marks the transition from the project to industrial reality. The name is together, which means “together” in Malagasy, sums up what we are building : a sailing container ship born from a collective effort, serving a France-Madagascar line and more economical maritime transport, more transparent and governed differently”, welcomed Alice de Cointet, operational director of Windcoop. The economic model is also tied up. The ship will operate a direct line between France and Madagascar, transhipment, with a transit time of approximately 30 days. Nowadays, 47 companies have already reserved transport capacities, representing approximately 1,600 containers per year and already ensuring economic viability for the cooperative.
Windcoop, another model of maritime transport
Founded by Matthieu Brunet (Arcadia), Julien Noé (Enercoop), Joyful, Amaury Bolvin and Victor Depoers (Zephyr & Borée), Windcoop is a maritime cooperative based in Lorient, created to offer transport of goods by sail, carbon-free and ethical. The capital and governance of the company are open to citizens, to companies and project partners, called to become co-owners of the ship. Since its creation in 2022, the cooperative brought together 7,4 million euros from more than 2,000 members, in order to finance the design and launch of this industrial project. The total cost of the project is estimated at 30,5 million euros.
Delivery of the vessel in the second quarter of 2027
The future together, long de 91,10 foot, is designed to carry 210 containers. It will be equipped with three rigid CWS sails representing a total sailing area of 1,050 m². This sail propulsion will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60% compared to a conventional container ship.. The ship will be able to transport 2,500 tonnes of goods. It will have 40 sockets for refrigerated containers. Embarking a crew of approximately 10 to 12 sailors, it will also be able to accommodate 12 passengers. Its delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027, for immediate commissioning.
