Canopée - Jifmar Group

Our world first

Canopée is the world’s first hybrid industrial cargo ship powered by wind. Developed to meet ArianeGroup’s logistical requirements notably, this new-generation vessel will transport Ariane 6 launcher parts from European ports to the Pariacabo port in Kourou, French Guiana, for the next 15 years.

Ariane 6 is a program managed and financed by the European Space Agency (ESA).

As prime contractor and design authority for the launcher, ArianeGroup handles development and production with its industrial partners, as well as marketing via its subsidiary Arianespace.

Pavillon Français [RIF]

Shipowner

Charterer

Client

Canopée paves the way for a more responsible shipping

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A common concern facing a major challenge

The maritime transport sector is responsible for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions. 90% of the goods consumed in the world are transported by sea. This trend has intensified in recent years, with the volume of goods transported increasing by 250% in 40 years. Shipowners are studying various technical solutions to decarbonise the sector. To date, although many solutions have been devised, few have been implemented; we are still very much at the beginning of this transition.

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A real step forward for more responsible shipping

It was in this context that Canopée, the first hybrid industrial vessel equipped with collapsible wings, was conceived. The combination of diesel propulsion and wind assistance on a cargo ship of this size (121 m long and 22 m wide) marks a real step forward in the decarbonisation strategy for industrial shipping. With its four wings, the ship aims for a reduction in fuel consumption of on average around 30%, therefore also reducing its associated CO2 footprint.

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An opportunistic approach that meets commercial challenges

Wind assistance allows the use of the wind – a natural and unlimited resource – as a lever for reducing the environmental footprint of the vessel and thus contributes to the development of more responsible maritime transport. This “opportunistic” rather than “restrictive” approach meets environmental challenges without conflicting with commercial ones as this approach does not affect the ship’s performance.

Alone we go faster, together we go further

This proverb “alone we go faster, together we go further” perfectly illustrates the collective intelligence with which this project has been carried out. The Canopée adventure is first and foremost about pooling needs, visions, expertise, and the desire for change in the service to a common goal: moving the yardstick to protect our environment.

SHIPOWNER

CHARTERER

DESIGN

WING PROVIDER

SHIPYARD

CLIENT

Chronology of a common adventure: a 6 years completion

2018

ArianeGroup’s tender
July 2019

Tender won Creation of Alizés
Oct/Dec 2020

Signing of the contract with Neptune Marine Projects B.V – Signing of the contract with OceanWings (previously AYRO) for the 4 Oceanwings®
February 2021

Keel laying of Canopée
December 2022

Delivery of the ship
July 2023

Fitting of the wings by OceanWings
October 2023

Christening of Canopée
Oct/Nov 2023

First crossing with the wings

The commercial operator

Jifmar Offshore Services and Zéphyr & Borée have joined forces to carry out this pioneering project, giving rise to the Alizés joint venture. As a result, they won the ArianeGroup tender in 2019.

Today, Alizés operates the vessel commercially (charterer) and is responsible for logistics operations on behalf of ArianeGroup.

Our Client

This adventure began in 2018 following a tender issued by ArianeGroup. As part of the Ariane 6 project, and with a clear desire to find a competitive and environmentally-friendly logistics solution, the Franco-German aerospace group opened a consultation to find a commercial operator capable of meeting this expectation.

The project

The naval architecture firm VPLP Design, well known in the world of yachting and ocean race, and the company Zéphyr & Borée, a pioneer in modern sailing freight transport, decided to propose an innovative ro-ro vessel using wings to reduce fossil fuel consumption: the concept was born!

Jifmar Offshore Services, known for its innovative, tailor-made projects, has put its know-how at the forefront of this vision. To make this concept a reality, Jifmar Offshore Services brought its expertise as a shipowner, its experience in fleet management and the financial solidity required for such a project.

December 2022

Delivery of the ship

The design of Canopée is the result of a joint effort by the Jifmar, Alizés and Neptune Marine Projects B.V. teams. Based on the preliminary design and hybrid performance prediction carried out by the architectural firm VPLP Design, Neptune, assisted by its engineering firm Groot Ship Design, carried out the detailed design and construction of the vessel.

The combined expertise of these players has made it possible to launch the detailed design of the vessel (at the end of 2020) and its construction (keel laying in February 2021) all the way through to its delivery at the end of 2022.

July 2023

Fitting of the wings by OceanWings

The final stage in completing the construction of this vessel took place in July 2023 with the installation of the wings. Canopée has been fitted with its 4 Oceanwings® – automated, collapsible and patented vertical wings. With a height of 37m and a surface area of 363m2 each, these wings make Canopée the most advanced ship in the world in terms of hybrid wind propulsion since it has been entirely designed and optimised with this in mind.

The wings generate far more power than conventional sails or single element wings.

Important facts about Canopée

October 2023

Christening of Canopée

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6th November 2023

Canopée won the best ship of the year award.

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26th March 2024

The President of the French Republic visited Canopée in Kourou. It was on this occasion that Jean-Michel BERUD, Chairman of Jifmar Group and Chairman of Alizés, met Emmanuel Macron, President of the FrenchRepublic.

Crédits photos :
Jifmar Group Library – Tom Van Oossanen
Jifmar Group Library – MadFly