Groupe Beneteau enters into firm agreement with NEOLINE for ecological shipping between France and North America

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, France, October 5, 2020

On July 30, 2020, Groupe Beneteau entered into a framework Transatlantic transport contract with NEOLINE, a new French shipowner, a pioneer in energy transition specialized in out of gauge freights.

“As a boatbuilder and world leader in sailing, the prospect of transporting our boats on board an innovative, ecological cargo ship, which is moreover mainly propelled by sail, reflects the Group's overall commitment to place sustainable development at the heart of the company's project” explains Jérôme de Metz, Chairman and CEO of Groupe Beneteau.

“By loading boats built in the Pays de Loire region at the port of Saint-Nazaire, Groupe Beneteau will be able to significantly reduce the amount of road transport currently required to reach the ports of departure of the transatlantic routes. In addition, thanks to the vessels' garage height of 9.80m, we will be able to safely transport our large units of over 40 feet inside these ro-ro vessels” explains Delphine Planes, Groupe Beneteau's Purchasing Director.

Jean Zanuttini, President of NEOLINE Développement, adds:

: “This transport contract will enable Groupe Beneteau to benefit from a efficient and sustainable maritime transport, as it will reduce GHG emissions up to 90%, as well as associated impacts such as underwater noise. Our new service, a vector of environmental and industrial innovation, serving the largest companies in the region, also provides Groupe Beneteau with visibility and control of transport costs over the long term. »

Groupe Beneteau's boats and yachts carried by the NEOLINE ro-ro ship In the current context of economic, ecological and health crisis, the choice of NEOLINE's transport solution is a concrete and significant action for energy transition in supply chains, towards a decarbonized and more resilient world.

NEOLINE, which was joined in early 2020 by the Sogestran group and its subsidiary Compagnie Maritime Nantaise-MN, is getting closer with this signature to its objective of launching the construction of its first ship with the NEOPOLIA Mobility shipyard in St-Nazaire, France.

The challenge for NEOLINE and its partners, committed to institutions, is to ensure that the construction and operation of its sailing cargo ships will benefit the local French economy as much as possible and will start in the coming months.

About NEOLINE

Founded in 2015 by a group of maritime professionals convinced of the necessary evolution of shipping towards more responsible maritime transport, NEOLINE, focused on sobriety and energy transition, is developing a fleet of ro-ro cargo ships (specialized in non-standard freight and heavy packages ) with main propulsion by sail. It is supported by the French region Pays de la Loire and BPI France. The project is labeled by the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, the Pôle EMC² and supported by Atlanpole. In 2020, the Sogestran group (and its subsidiary Compagnie Maritime Nantaise - MN) takes a stake in NEOLINE.

www.neoline.eu

NEOLINE Press Contact:
Bénédicte Enaux - b.enaux@neoline.eu - tel : +33 / (0)6 08 51 02 43

About Groupe Beneteau

Founded in Vendée 140 years ago by Benjamin Bénéteau, Groupe Beneteau is today a world leader in the boating industry. With an international industrial presence spanning 16 production sites and a worldwide commercial network, the Group generated revenue of €1 billion in 2024 and has a workforce of more than 6500 employees mainly in France, United States, Poland, Italy, Portugal, and Tunisia.

True to its mission – Bringing dreams to water – Groupe Beneteau designs and builds boats and services to make every experience on the water truly unique. Through its nine brands, its Boat division offers more than 135 boat models craft to meet the diverse needs and sailing projects of its customers, whether sailing or motoring, monohull or catamaran . Through its Boating Solutions division, the Groupe Beneteau is also involved in services covering daily or weekly boat hire, marinas, the digital sector and financing.