en.Wedoany.com Reported - DHL's freight forwarding division, DHL Global Forwarding France, has partnered with wind-powered shipping company Vela to offer clients transatlantic cargo transport services using wind-powered vessels. Vela announced the partnership on June 22, stating it combines environmental performance with logistics efficiency.
Under the cooperation agreement, DHL Global Forwarding France has become one of the initial customers for Vela's new ships, joining what the company calls the "Pioneer Cohort" and committing to book cargo space. Vela is the latest in a series of emerging wind-powered freight projects, having ordered its first vessel with plans to own five ships by 2028 to maintain a weekly transatlantic service between France and the United States. The first ship is under construction at Austal Philippines' shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, Philippines, where a key milestone—the assembly and turnover of the aluminum hull—was completed a year ago.
The service is expected to launch in early 2027. Ships are planned to depart from Normandy and Bordeaux, France, with westbound voyages taking 10 to 13 days to reach New Jersey, USA, while the return trip to France is estimated at 8 to 10 days. Vela emphasizes the vessels are relatively fast, with an average speed of approximately 14 knots, and utilize advanced weather routing optimization systems to follow wind patterns in real time.
Vela states the ships feature a trimaran design, developed by naval architecture firm VPLP and sailing team MerConcept, offering greater stability and higher speed, providing a safe platform for cargo. The vessels measure 220 feet (67 meters) in length, with a cargo capacity of 415 metric tons, loaded according to European pallet standards. Planned weekly capacity is 500 pallets, totaling 30,000 pallets per direction annually across the Atlantic. The cargo area is equipped with temperature control facilities, suitable for transporting pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, luxury goods, wine and spirits, aerospace products, and high-value cargo.
These vessels will be entirely wind-powered, expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 99%. The sail area measures 6,705 square feet, and the ships are equipped with solar panels and a hydrogenator, with an air draft of 200 feet (61 meters).
Vela's wind-powered freight concept is not unique. Last October, another wind-powered cargo ship, the Neoliner Origin, was launched, securing initial clients including Hennessy, Rémy Cointreau, Longchamp, Manitou, and Renault Group. These projects all aim to explore scalable, scheduled sustainable shipping alternatives on transatlantic routes.
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