French Chocolate Maker Charts Course for 200-TEU Sailing Cargo Ship, Launching in 2027

Grain de Sail, a French company renowned for its commitment to sustainable shipping and organic food production, has unveiled plans for its third modern sailing cargo ship—the Grain de Sail III—set to launch in 2027.

Founded in 2013 as a coffee roaster and chocolatier, the company has since expanded into decarbonized maritime logistics and now aims to grow its commercial presence in the U.S. and Europe through both food production and freight forwarding services.

Unlike its first two sailing cargo vessels, the Grain de Sail III is designed as a pure sailing containership, capable of transporting 200 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and carrying up to 3,000 metric tons of cargo. The ship will be able to cross the Atlantic in approximately 13 days.

Grain de Sail’s first cargo sailboat, a 24-meter aluminum hull demonstrator, has been in operation since November 2020. Grain de Sail II, a larger 52-meter ship with a payload capacity of 350 tonnes, was constructed by the Brittany, France shipyard PIRIOU. The vessel completed its maiden voyage to New York in March.

The new vessel, with a capacity of 2,800 tonnes, is expected to significantly increase the company’s ability to import raw ingredients, particularly cocoa, to keep up with production amid the growing demand for its products.. This latest addition to the fleet underscores Grain de Sail’s mission to scale up decarbonized transport solutions.

“With Grain de Sail III, we are showcasing our ambitions and strengthening our leadership in the decarbonized maritime transport segment,” said Oliver Barreau, Co-Founder and President of Grain de Sail. “To make wind-powered transport accessible, we need to change scale, and that’s exactly what we’re about to do with a pure sailing container ship.”

The Grain de Sail III will achieve over 90% decarbonization, powered by its three masts equipped with 4,000 square meters of sail area. With an air draft of 62.5 meters, the vessel will easily navigate under key bridges on major maritime routes, such as New York’s Verrazzano Bridge and through the Panama Canal. The ship’s retractable daggerboards will enhance its upwind performance while minimizing draft at dockside, ensuring efficient port access.

The vessel will also feature cutting-edge hydrogenation technologies developed by Grain de Sail, allowing it to autonomously generate decarbonized onboard energy. A wood pellet boiler will provide heating and hot water, enhancing crew comfort during transatlantic voyages. Like its predecessors, Grain de Sail III will be designed with strong insulation to create a near-passive energy environment.

The operation of sailing cargo vessels is not without its risks. This past May, two crew members of the sailing cargo vessel De Gallant lost their lives after the vessel sank in a storm near the Bahamas. The Vanuatu-flagged vessel, a 90-foot schooner built in the Netherlands in 1916, was owned and operated by the France-based Blue Schooner Company. The company confirmed that the vessel had departed Santa Marta, Colombia, days earlier with a cargo of coffee, cocoa, and cane sugar destined for Europe.

Grain de Sail’s experience in operating its first two cargo sailboats has provided key insights into the capabilities and challenges of wind propulsion. The company aims to offer scalable, low-carbon transport solutions for the maritime industry, drawing on years of operational feedback and practical assessment of wind-powered shipping needs.

Registered under the French International Register (RIF), Grain de Sail III is poised to meet the growing demand for sustainable shipping solutions. As Grain de Sail continues to expand its fleet, the company is leading the charge toward low-carbon maritime logistics across the Atlantic, strengthening the connection between Europe and the U.S. with its commitment to sustainable, wind-powered transport solutions.

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