Press Release / Neoline
July 3, 2026
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, in the early afternoon, Neoliner Origin suffered significant damage to its forward mainsail while making its return voyage from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to Montoir de Bretagne. The mainsail fell onto the boom following a mechanical failure of the system.
There were no injuries, and the vessel’s safety was not compromised. The ship was able to resume its route under engine power, and measures were taken on board to secure the area.
The vessel will call at Lorient starting Sunday, July 5, to assess the damage, remove the damaged sail, and carry out the technical work needed for a swift resumption of operations.
This incident raises questions about the operating conditions of the SolidSail mainsails, and an in-depth technical analysis is underway to determine the precise causes and fully address them.
“As the shipowner, safety is our top priority. That is why, even though this damage never called the vessel’s safety into question and the schedule delay should remain limited to a few days, we believe an event of this nature should not have occurred. We have therefore asked Chantiers de l’Atlantique to carry out an in-depth technical analysis to ensure the sails can be used without risk.”
– Jean Zanuttini, President of Neoline
Given the time required for immediate repairs, loading at Montoir-de-Bretagne, originally scheduled for July 9, has been rescheduled to July 13. The next rotation will therefore take place with reduced sail capacity.
This episode is a reminder that Neoliner Origin is a first-of-its-kind vessel in scaling up wind-powered shipping as a primary means of propulsion, an undertaking that involves technical challenges which take time to fully resolve.
Our ambition remains intact, bolstered by increasing use of the sails in recent weeks alongside significant fuel-consumption reductions. We are therefore confident that we are progressing toward our goals.
We would like to thank RMK Marine and Chantiers de l’Atlantique for their commitment alongside us in analyzing this incident, as well as all our partners for their support.
We also thank our customers for their unwavering trust. By choosing to work with us, they are supporting a groundbreaking and innovative approach, with a vessel that is pushing the boundaries of industrial-scale wind propulsion. Their loyalty shows that they remain fully behind Neoline as we open this new path and help decarbonize maritime shipping.
Press contact: g.paulet@neoline.eu
