WebreaderShopNewsletter Tophäfen

Grain de Sail IIIGiant cargo sailing ship from Brittany

Martin Hager

 · 21.11.2025

The new Breton cargo ship is 110 metres long, carries almost 4000 square metres of canvas and should be able to cross the Atlantic in just 13 days with low emissions. Capacity: 200 TEU containers. | Image: L2O Naval
The new "Grain de Sail III" cargo ship marks another significant step in sustainable shipping. With a length of 110 metres, a sail area of around 4,000 square metres and a load capacity of 3,000 tonnes, it is one of the largest sailing freighters currently under construction. The launch of the three-master is planned for 2027.
Topics in this article

International goods transport is becoming more sustainable and the fleet of cargo ships is growing steadily. The 136 metre long "Neoliner Origin" recently completed the first Atlantic crossing under sail. A transport journey with 80 per cent lower CO2 emissions compared to conventional container ships. The Breton company Grain de Sail, which already operates two smaller sailing freighters and is currently working on its flagship, the 110-metre-long "Grain de Sail III", also believes in this type of low-emission goods transport. The first voyages are due to start in two years.

Sustainable goods transport

The company Grain de Sail was founded in 2010 by twin brothers Jacques and Olivier Barreau with the aim of transporting organic coffee and chocolate across the Atlantic with the lowest possible CO2 emissions. The company opened its first roasting plant in 2013, followed by a chocolate factory in 2016. Four years later, the first sailing cargo ship was put into operation.

"Grain de Sail III" - 200 TEU on board

Following the positive experiences and operational feedback from the first two ships, the team developed the significantly larger and technically more advanced "Grain de Sail III". The ship is equipped with three Panmax masts, has 4,000 square metres of sail area and should be able to cross the Atlantic in around 13 days. Assuming the best wind conditions, of course.

Wood pellets provide energy

In addition to sail propulsion, the ship relies on modern energy management: a combination of strong insulation, hydrogen technology and a wood pellet boiler ensures a self-sufficient and emission-free energy supply on board. This not only guarantees propulsion, but also the comfort of the crew. "Grain de Sail III" is part of a series modern sailing freighter combine climate protection targets with economic efficiency.

How do you like this article?

Technical data "Grain de Sail III":

Length: 110 m

Sailing area: approx. 4,000 m²

Loading capacity: approx. 3,000 tonnes / 200 TEU

Mast height (Panmax): 62.5 m

Launch: 2027

Martin Hager

Martin Hager

Editor in Chief YACHT

Martin Hager is editor-in-chief of the titles YACHT and BOOTE EXCLUSIV and has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag for 20 years. He was born in Heidelberg in 1978 and started sailing at the age of six, in an Opti of course. This was soon followed by 420s, Sprinta Sport and 470s, which he also sailed on the regatta course with his brother. His parents regularly took him on charter trips through the Greek and Balearic Islands. Even at a young age, it was clear to him that he wanted to turn his passion for water sports into a career. After graduating from high school and completing an internship at the Rathje boatbuilding company in Kiel, it was clear that he did not want to become a classic boatbuilder. Instead, he successfully studied shipbuilding and marine engineering in the Schleswig-Holstein state capital and focused on yacht design wherever he could. His diploma thesis dealt with the “Testing of a new speed prediction method for sailing yachts”. In 2004, the superyacht magazine BOOTE EXCLUSIV was looking for an editor with technical and nautical background knowledge, a position that was perfect for Martin Hager. The application was successful and a two-year traineeship was arranged. After twelve years as an editor, the editorial team changed and he took over responsibility for BOOTE EXCLUSIV as editor-in-chief in 2017. After long-time YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker moved to the role of publisher, Martin Hager also took over the position of editor-in-chief of Europe's largest sailing magazine YACHT, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, at the beginning of 2023. When he's not working on topics for the two water sports titles, Martin Hager likes to go out on the water himself - preferably with kite and wingfoil equipment or on a little after-work trip across the Alster.

Home
Umwelt

Most read in category Yachts