STX France Unveils New Sailing Ship Concept

French shipbuilder STX France has unveiled a new sailing ship concept which would reduce environmental impact and save energy.

Presented at the Seatrade Cruise Global exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, the company’s SILENSEAS concept would feature a length of 190 meters, 150 passenger cabins, and offer an eco-friendly cruise experience.

Following the launch of its cruise ship concept EOSEAS in 2009, STX France continued research on the principle of sail propulsion and developed a patented concept, SOLIDSAIL, capable of reaching large sail areas.

By combining the use of the sails with the latest propulsion and energy production technologies, including LNG, batteries and automation, STX France developed SILENSEAS, which reduces the use of propulsion energy on 60% Caribbean routes, while allowing exceptional performance under sail.