The French subsidiary of the German logistics group, DHL Global Forwarding France, has entered into a strategic partnership with the French shipping start-up Vela. From early 2027, freight is to be transported across the Atlantic on cargo trimarans with virtually zero emissions. The route runs from Caen-Ouistreham in Normandy to New Haven in the US state of Connecticut.
Each of the 67-metre-long ships can carry 600 Euro pallets or 415 tonnes of cargo. The crossing is estimated to take 15 days from port to port – conventional container ships take around nine days, whilst air freight takes just eight hours.
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Vela claims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99 per cent compared with air freight and by up to 90 per cent compared with conventional sea freight. The service is aimed in particular at companies in the pharmaceutical, luxury goods, cosmetics, aviation, and wine and spirits sectors.
Wind as the main source of propulsion at sea
During the transatlantic crossing, the Vela trimarans use the wind as their primary source of propulsion. On board, a special cooling system also ensures that perishable goods survive the journey unscathed. The cooling system is intended to be powered mainly by the vessel’s own renewable energy sources.
Shipping accounts for around 90 per cent of world trade and is responsible for just under three per cent of global CO₂ emissions, 13 per cent of sulphur emissions and 30 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions. The International Maritime Organisation has set a target in 2023 for ships to be climate-neutral by 2050.
In ports, ships must comply with standard maritime regulations, which means manoeuvring under their own power. To this end, electricity generated primarily from solar panels and hydro-generators and stored in batteries is to be used. Marine diesel serves as a backup. Furthermore, ballast tanks have been omitted from the design, partly to eliminate environmental risks posed by invasive species.
“By combining Vela’s 100 per cent wind-powered cargo trimarans with DHL’s first-class logistics and customs expertise, we are offering an alternative designed to drastically reduce emissions in the transport sector without compromising on safety, reliability or quality,” the company explains. DHL handles transport organisation, pre- and post-carriage, customs clearance, warehousing and other logistics services. Vela provides the maritime solution.
Secondary ports rather than mega-transhipment hubs
The route deliberately uses secondary ports rather than major hubs. Caen-Ouistreham and New Haven are situated away from the main traffic flows. This reduces congestion, minimises transhipment operations and enhances operational control. The ports are ISPS-certified and specialise in high-value goods. For discerning customers, enhanced security options and traceability at pallet level are available.
Laurent Terreyre, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding France, says: “As a leading player in the global logistics industry, DHL is committed to supporting the decarbonisation of transport and expanding the range of services it offers its customers. This partnership with Vela represents a concrete step in this direction and enables us to integrate a dedicated, locally based wind-powered shipping option into our customer offering.”
Trimaran design optimised for speed
The Vela trimaran is 67 metres long and 25 metres wide. Its two masts rise 61 metres into the air, meaning the boat is designed to pass under New York’s bridges. Its average speed on the transatlantic route is 14 knots. The sail area covers 623 square metres. Electricity is generated by 240 square metres of solar panels and two hydrogenerators.
The decision was made to build a trimaran because multihulls have a shallower draught and therefore lower water resistance than monohulls. The two-masted rig divides the sail area, which makes the boat easier to handle. The aluminium design keeps the boat’s weight down and enables it to reach higher speeds.
Expertise from offshore racing
Vela was founded by five people, including François Gabart. The professional sailor won the 2012/2013 Vendée Globe. The trimarans were designed in collaboration with VPLP and MerConcept, leading specialists in offshore racing.
Current oil price trends make free wind propulsion even more attractive. Other designs use kites, rigid sails or Flettner rotors, though these are usually employed as auxiliary propulsion systems. Vela relies on wind as its primary source of propulsion.
The trimarans will not cross the Atlantic via the shortest route; instead, the route will vary from time to time depending on the prevailing wind conditions. The Vela team, in partnership with MerConcept, will carry out the real-time weather routing required for this.
Fleet expansion by 2028
The first Vela trimaran for DHL is set to begin freight services in early 2027. A year later, five vessels are expected to be operating on the transatlantic route, enabling weekly sailings. The target capacity is 48,000 tonnes of freight per year.
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Pascal Schürmann
Editor YACHT
