A partnership of cargoship brokers and travel agents have announced their cooperation in EcoClippers first new sail liner ferry service from the Netherlands to Portugal, via ports in the UK and France.

The start port for EcoClippers will be Amsterdam and ending in Porto, with calls at ports in the United Kingdom and France. This will be the Dutch shipping company’s first sustainable liner service which will be operated by their sail-cargo vessel De Tukker along with taking passengers.

The liner service, will operate from 22nd April, departing from Amsterdam at 10am CET and the two masted De Tukker, will be EcoClipper’s first sailing ship to engage on this trade and travel route.

De Tukker will have a maximum cargo load of about 70 cubic metres and will be able to take up to 12 passengers, with the vessel propelled by the clean power of wind. The new shipping line will sail on a scheduled service calling at the ports of: Amsterdam, Penzance, Porto, Noirmoutier, Saint Nazaire, Torquay, London and Scheveningen. The service involves linking four nations using eight ports.

Partnering with the cargo brokers and shippers New Dawn Traders, Fairtransport, Shipped by Sail and Port O’ Bristol as well as the travel agents Fair Ferry, Classic Sailing and Windseeker, EcoClipper is planning three round trips annually.

All of our partners specialise in sustainable travel and bookings can be made with one of these agents or directly via the EcoClipper website info on schedule and prices, here.

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, founder of Fair Ferry said, “We started pioneering sustainable travel on sailing ships before the pandemic. It turned out that the demand of travellers was three times larger than the supply of vessels. The travellers booking these trips have very different backgrounds: it goes from backpackers who do not want to fly, to retirees with the funds and time.”

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 the year 2030. Furthermore, there is increasing demand for sustainable and emission-free connections between the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France and Portugal.

Adam Purser, founder of Classic Sailing told us, “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.”

The Dutch shipping company, EcoClipper has announced this year’s sailing schedule of the newly purchased ship De Tukker as Afloat reported in January.

De Tukker is the first in a fleet of low-impact sailing ships which will transport cargo and passengers using the wind as a main source of propulsion. The schedule focuses on the North Sea, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

The routes include some of the major international shipping ports such as Amsterdam, London, Porto and Antwerp. De Tukker, which measures 40 meters with a shallow draft of 2.4 meters, will also be able to operate in local ports such as La Rochelle, France, and Penzance, UK, which will increase its public profile and target local SMEs wanting to reduce their shipping footprint.

There will be space for 12 paying guests, who are invited to get involved in the sailing of the ship but are also welcome to enjoy the unique experience.

De Tukker has 60 cubic meters of cargo space and will be able to carry a maximum of 70 tonnes of cargo. The ship is currently undergoing refit work at Talsma Shipyard in the Netherlands. The draft has been increased by an extended keel thus providing more stable sailing. Research is also being carried out into installing a propeller generator and solar panels on the galley deckhouse which would cover the onboard lighting system and navigation, thereby further reducing fossil-fuel use.

EcoClipper has been talking to future partners such as broker New Dawn Traders, sailing holiday agent Classic Sailing and sustainable ferry service FairFerry. Internationally renowned sail cargo company Fairtransport and UK based brokers Shipped by Sail and Raybel Charters have also been approached.

Jorne Langelaan, CEO and founder of EcoClipper, said “The 2022 sailing schedule provides a good mix of both larger ports and small harbours. This will increase visibility of the sail cargo and sail travel industries. It’s fantastic to be able to work in tandem with other sail cargo companies too, we all have a lot to offer and we are all moving towards the same target: to ultimately reduce shipping emissions and provide the tried and tested method of sailing as a viable transport option.”

Customers can book a place/cargo on the ship here