The wind-powered RoRo cargo ship Neoliner Origin is expanding its Atlantic route to include Zeebrugge. The first call was scheduled for September 18, 2026. The new rotation connects the Belgian port with Montoir-de-Bretagne in France, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Baltimore, and Halifax.
RoRo stands for Roll-on/Roll-off: vehicles and rolling cargo are driven on and off the ship via ramps. The vessel can also accommodate containers, project cargo, and oversized goods. Zeebrugge is therefore a good fit for the concept because the port is strong in vehicle and RoRo traffic. CMA CGM is supporting Neoline in the sale of capacity.
The rotation takes approximately five weeks in summer and six weeks in winter. Neoline plans around ten round trips per year. For Zeebrugge to Baltimore, the company states 20 days westbound and 15 days eastbound. To Halifax, it is 24 and eleven days respectively.
For shippers, this is not a replacement for a weekly major shipping line service. The departure frequency is lower and weather-dependent reserves remain important. On the other hand, the ship can be a viable option to reduce fuel consumption at sea when suitable cargo is available. Key factors are available deck space, permissible dimensions, securing methods, and the connections in pre- and onward carriage.