Vela is almost ready

Previous reports from Windassist introduced a spectacular French project: the cargo trimaran Vela. The shipyard has now announced that the vessel has partially emerged from the construction hall: 95 per cent complete.

A proud shipyard reports: “The Albatross has left the nest! Last weekend, the bow of the VELA trimaran rolled out of the Austal shipyard for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its construction.
Inspired by the effortless efficiency of the albatross, this striking bow embodies the vision behind VELA: to create the ‘aircraft of the seas’, a vessel inspired by offshore racing and designed for outstanding performance, speed and efficiency.”  Exciting times lie ahead as the VELA takes shape. A world first: a sailing aluminium cargo trimaran powered 100 per cent by wind. Based on a concept by VPLP in Paris and fitted with a sail system by MerConcept, Australwerft is designing and building this next-generation vessel at its shipyard in Cebu, the Philippines.

Designed by the very best: VPLP and MerConcept. The trimaran is the first of its kind, built by the leading experts VPLP and MerConcept. It is stable, fast and environmentally friendly, and sails without ballast tanks – thereby eliminating the environmental risks posed by invasive species. Thanks to its advanced sails and groundbreaking technology, the Vela trimaran sets a new standard for energy efficiency, harnessing wind power without compromising on stability or speed.

Unlike monohulls, the VELA trimaran sails flat, making it naturally stable and causing virtually no heel. This design ensures maximum safety and comfort for both the crew and the cargo. Fragile goods thus remain perfectly intact, protected from the usual 10 to 20-degree list experienced on traditional vessels.

Stability and safety

Thanks to minimal heel and a wide, stable deck, the vessel’s movements and the forces encountered at sea are significantly reduced. This design protects sensitive cargo whilst improving crew comfort, ensuring safer operations and perfect adherence to delivery schedules, even under difficult conditions at sea.
The cargo trimarans are designed to the strictest standards of merchant shipping. They comply with all international IMO conventions (SOLAS, COLREG, MARPOL, STCW, ISM, ISPS), thereby guaranteeing a high level of safety for the crew, the cargo and navigation.
Navigation is optimised in real time thanks to weather routing provided by our teams, in collaboration with our partner MerConcept, a recognised expert in ocean sailing.

Source: Vela Transport

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