Our commitment to decarbonising maritime transport is central to our industrial diversification strategy and our CSR approach.
Since 2016, we have been contributing to the SolidSail project, initiated with Chantiers de l’Atlantique as part of research work. This programme has led to the development of 1,000 m² rigid sails, two of which were installed in June 2025 on the Néoline company’s cargo ship. This roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel provides a regular monthly service between Saint-Nazaire and Baltimore, Halifax and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
At the same time, MULTIPLAST is manufacturing six sails for the Accor Group’s two Orient Express cruise ships (launch scheduled for late 2025).
In these projects, MULTIPLAST also participated in the manufacture of 65-metre masts, in collaboration with AVEL ROBOTICS, CDK, LORIMA and SMM, which formed a consortium. These self-supporting masts, without shrouds, can be tilted to reduce the air draft.
As part of this development, the five partner companies and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, our client, received a JEC World Innovation Award in 2023.
What is the weight of a SolidSail sail?
+The 10 panels and the headboard of each sail represent a mass of 5,600 kg of composite material.
How long does it take to manoeuvre SolidSail mainsails?
+It takes 7 minutes to hoist the mainsails onto the 65-metre-high masts. Lowering them takes only 5 minutes.
