Following its christening in Bordeaux, France, the hybrid-propulsion sailing freighter custom-built for ArianeGroup for the transport of Ariane 6, Canopée, headed to Bremen to pick up project cargo. According to ArianeGroup, the vessel headed to Bremen to test the logistics of the harbour infrastructure with partner BLG Logistics Group for the loading of the Ariane 6 upper stage.

Equipped with four Oceanwings, Canopée is not only a flagship for the decarbonisation of maritime transport, it underlines ArianeGroup’s approach to seeking out environmentally friendly solutions for a more sustainable space industry, the company highlighted.

The world’s first sailing cargo ship, Canopée can transport all the Ariane 6 launcher components from continental Europe to Kourou, French Guiana, in a single voyage.

Each voyage between Europe and French Guiana will include a number of ports of call: Bremen (upper stage), Rotterdam (half-fairing), Le Havre (core stage produced in Les Mureaux near Paris and shipped via river Seine), Bordeaux (solid propulsion components and booster parts produced in Nouvelle Aquitaine), and finally Kourou for delivery of the launcher components to the European Spaceport. The whole journey takes around 27 days.

According to Neptune Marine, the vessel has completed its loading in Bremen and has headed to Rotterdam to load more cargo. The AIS data shows the vessel is back in Bordeaux.