Shipping by Sail Cargo – The Future Rooted in Tradition
Sail cargo is a modern revival of an ancient practice: transporting goods across oceans by wind power. At a time when maritime transport accounts for a significant share of global CO₂ emissions, sail cargo offers a sustainable alternative—dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of shipping while reconnecting trade with natural rhythms.
One of the leaders in this movement is TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport), a French company pioneering large-scale commercial sail cargo. Since its creation in 2011, TOWT has worked with traditional sailing ships and is now building a new fleet of modern cargo vessels designed to carry thousands of tons of goods using primarily wind propulsion.
Sail cargo is more than just an environmental solution—it also delivers transparency and traceability. TOWT, for example, provides a "Sail Cargo" label, allowing consumers to trace the journey of their goods and understand the impact of their purchase.
By shipping products such as coffee, cocoa, wine, and tea across the Atlantic under sail, TOWT demonstrates that sustainable transport can be both efficient and commercially viable. Their approach not only cuts emissions but also creates awareness, showing that the way products move from producer to consumer matters.
Sail cargo thus represents a bridge between tradition and innovation: harnessing centuries-old knowledge of the wind while integrating modern technology to build a cleaner future for maritime trade.
