Hybrid ship underway in the North Sea - the Canopèe and its mission

This week, a special ship set sail from Bremen for French Guiana - on the American continent. The "Canopée" is the first industrial hybrid ship that is also powered by wind energy, according to the seaport and logistics service provider BLG Logistics. According to the company, in addition to two diesel engines, the Canopée also has four sails, which are intended to reduce the average annual fuel consumption.

The "Canopée" is a French Ro-Ro ship, i.e. cargo is driven directly onto the ship: Cargo is driven directly onto the ship. This extraordinary ship transports parts of the Ariane 6 launcher from Europe to the ESA space center in French Guiana.

The Canopée can transport up to 5,000 tons at a speed of 16.5 knots.

All parts of the launcher can thus be transported in one shipment, which in turn leads to an enormous reduction in the number of transports required between Europe and French Guiana

The contract to build the ship was awarded to the Dutch shipyard Neptune Marine in October 2020. The shipyard then had the shell built at the Partner Stoczina shipyard in Szczecin, Poland.

The ship was completed at the end of December 2022 after a two-year construction period.

Christening in Bordeaux in October 2023

The christening of the ship took place in Bordeaux, France, in October 2023 amid great press hype. The ship's name "Canopèe" comes from the roof of the Forum des Halles in the Quartier des Halles in Paris.

The hybrid ship sails around ten times a year between the ports of Bremen, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Bordeaux and Pariacabo at the ESA Space Center in French Guiana.

Pictures: ArianeGroup