World News
Zero-Emission Freight Arrives in London
Delivering cargo with zero emissions is possible, a French shipping company has shown.
By adapting traditional sailing skills to a modern context, the Blue Schooner Company has moved cargo from Portugal to the UK under sail without emitting any carbon dioxide (CO2).
The only CO2 emitted on the entire leg of the voyage is under diesel engine power when the boat is manoeurved into dock.
The company is the brainchild of Frenchmen Guillaume Roche and Jean Francois Lebleu.
Speaking to Ship & Bunker at St Katherine's Dock in London on Sunday, Roche said for a long time he had wanted to use his professional maritime experience to good use and do something about climate change.
The result is the 27-metre long schooner, Gallant, which made the trip with its cargo of foodstuffs from the north of Portugal to London calling at France and the southwest coast of the UK along the way.
"This way of delivering cargo by sail is commecrially viable," said Roche, who is also the ship's captain.
"But it would be better if we had a bigger ship."
The interest in cargo by sail is high particularly from the Caribbean and South America to Europe.
Roche said that his three-year-old company is in the process of attracting funding for that second ship. And he is eager to make it happen.
The demand is out there, Roche said, and a bigger ship would turn that demand into a reality.
About Julian Macqueen
Julian is Ship & Bunker's Senior Editor and has over 20 years' experience covering the maritime and energy industries. In addition to being the editor of the Oxford-based Bunkernews in the late nineties, his career has included appointments at Lloyd's List, Tradewinds, Bunkerworld, and S&P Global Platts.
Julian is based in London, UK.
About Ship & Bunker
Ship & Bunker is the world's most read publication focused on the marine fuel markets. Completely independent, it is the leading industry authority providing comprehensive daily news, exclusive in-depth features and analysis, along with daily & historical bunker price indications.
To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at editor@shipandbunker.com
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