At the start of 2022, the EcoClipper bought a large sailing ship, the De Tukker, the shipping company’s new zero-emission vessel, with overdue maintenance. Its objective was to convert De Tukker into a sailing freighter as a solution to the problem of shipping pollution. As seen worldwide, the shipping industry burns huge quantities of heavy fuel oil to transport products. Transporting goods via sailing ships would prevent an enormous number of emissions.
However, the conversion of De Tukker into a sailing freighter was not without its setbacks.
When Jorne Langelaan, the founder of EcoClipper, signed De Tukker’s purchase contract, he had hoped for rapid financing and renovation to serve freight customers who wanted their products to be transported emission-free this year. He could not imagine that the world economy would be turned upside down and the ship would be in worse condition than he expected.
De Tukker was built in 1912 and served as a coastal trader for many years. In the 1980s, the ship was converted into a Dutch sail training vessel and became well-known with disadvantaged youth until 2012. In 2022, she joined the EcoClipper fleet and began sailing cargo and passengers across the North Sea, English Channel, Bay of Biscay, and Baltic Sea. The ship has a barge-shaped hull and could carry up to 70 cubic meters of cargo, or the equivalent of up to 70 tons. Additionally, it has accommodations for up to 12 travelers.
“After an initially good start, funding came to a standstill after the start of the war in Ukraine. To be able to make the necessary investments, one of the initial investors provided a mortgage on the ship. Now that it becomes clear that most of the work has been completed, I also expect the financing to come together,” said Jorne, who is positive about the future of sustainable transport by sailing ship.
Most of the renovation was done by the Talsma shipyard in Franeker. When it became clear that there was much more work to be done on the ship, it was Jelle Talsma, founder, and director of the shipyard of the same name, who offered to replace the entire underwater hull. “This is not fun now, it benefits no one, but if the ship sails cargo next year and points the way to sustainable logistics for the future, you will quickly overcome these setbacks,” he said.
Zero-emission vessel between Amsterdam and Porto
Recently, a partnership of cargo brokers and travel agents announced their cooperation in a new sail liner ferry service between Amsterdam and Porto, calling at ports in the United Kingdom and France. It will be the first sustainable liner service by EcoClipper.
The liner service for passengers and cargo started last April 22, departing from Amsterdam. The two-masted ship De Tukker will be EcoClipper’s first sailing ship to engage on this trade and travel route. This vessel will be able to take up to 12 passengers and a maximum load of about 70 cubic meters of cargo, all propelled by the clean power of the wind. This new shipping line will sail on a scheduled service calling at Amsterdam, Penzance, Porto, Noirmoutier, Saint Nazaire, Torquay, London, and Scheveningen ports.
Partnering with the cargo brokers and shippers New Dawn Traders, Fairtransport, Shipped by Sail, and Port O’ Bristol, as well as travel agents Fair Ferry, Classic Sailing, and Windseeker, EcoClipper is planning three round trips annually.
Alexandra Geldenhuys, founder and director of New Dawn Traders, said, “From dockside fanfare, sail-cargo industry meetings, we are raising awareness around fair transport, ocean conservation, and food sovereignty, and supporting a growing industry for sail shipped goods.”
Karel De Boer, the founder of Fair Ferry, said, “We started pioneering sustainable travel on sailing ships before the pandemic. It turned out that the demand for travelers was three times larger than the supply of vessels. The travelers booking these trips have very different backgrounds: it goes from backpackers who do not want to fly to retirees with the funds and time.”
Zero-emission vessel as a response to the anti-flying movement in Europe
According to Capt. Jorne Langelaan, founder and CEO of the sailing ship operator EcoClipper, “For some years now, an anti-flying movement known as ‘flight shame,’ has been developing in Europe. Recently a return to long-distance train travel has been seen, and now the return of the sailing vessel is imminent.”
This new service comes at the same time as a new proposal from the European Commission to reduce greenhouse gases in shipping by 55% by 2030. Furthermore, there is increasing demand for sustainable and emission-free connections between the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal.
Adam Purser, the founder of Classic Sailing, shared, “For us, a real sailing boat or sailing ship is one which makes your heart skip a beat as it comes around a headland or makes a commercial fisherman look up from his nets and smile as you sail past. Working together with EcoClipper, we think it shows the way ahead for the future of shipping.” (Story and photos courtesy of EcoClipper)