DHL is putting cargo on wind-powered ships across the Atlantic

DHL is turning to VELA for wind power to help move cargo across the Atlantic.

DHL Global Forwarding France has signed a partnership with French shipping company VELA to offer freight services aboard wind-powered cargo trimarans between Europe and the US. The service is scheduled to launch in early 2027.

The route will connect Caen-Ouistreham, France, with New Haven, Connecticut, using sailing cargo vessels that rely primarily on wind for propulsion. Each ship will be able to carry up to 600 European Union pallets per voyage, and VELA is targeting a port-to-port transit time of 15 days.

The service is aimed at companies shipping less-than-container-load (LCL) freight, particularly in industries such as pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, cosmetics, aerospace, and wine and spirits.

DHL will handle the broader logistics network around the ocean crossing, including pre-carriage, customs, and warehousing. The idea is to offer customers a lower-emissions shipping option without requiring major changes to their existing supply chains.

One of the more interesting features is VELA’s CoolSafe refrigeration system, which is designed to transport temperature-sensitive cargo. The system is powered primarily by onboard renewable energy sources and is compliant with pharmaceutical shipping standards.

According to an independent lifecycle analysis conducted by consulting firm Carbone 4, VELA’s wind-powered shipping system could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99% compared with other transport options on similar routes, under certain assumptions.

While wind-powered commercial shipping is still a niche in the freight industry, it’s attracting growing interest as cargo companies look for ways to cut emissions from one of the world’s hardest-to-decarbonize sectors. Ocean shipping currently accounts for roughly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and most vessels still run on heavy fuel oil.

DHL will have dedicated space on VELA’s vessels under the agreement, with volume commitments expected to grow as the fleet expands. VELA plans to operate five ships on the transatlantic route, eventually offering up to one sailing per week.

If the project scales as planned, it could become one of the first regular wind-powered freight services connecting Europe and North America.

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