Canopée receives a prestigious award for its innovative concept in maritime transport
26.06.2025
On 18 June, the French Naval Academy (Académie de Marine) awarded the prestigious 2025 Henri Kummerman Prize to Canopée, the sail-powered cargo ship used by ArianeGroup to transport the main sub-assemblies of Ariane 6 to French Guiana.
This distinction from the French Naval Academy honours the most outstanding achievements in merchant ship design and operation. For 2025, it has been awarded collectively to ArianeGroup (as the client), Alizés (the ship’s owner), naval architecture firm VPLP, and wingsail manufacturer OceanWings. The award recognises their exemplary collaboration in transporting parts for the Ariane 6 launcher from continental Europe to Kourou, French Guiana, while significantly reducing both carbon emissions and transport costs.
From America’s Cup to French Guiana
Originally designed to optimise the transatlantic transport of Ariane 6 parts to their launch site, Canopée has gone on to revolutionise maritime shipping. It is the world’s first operational wind-powered cargo vessel, equipped with wingsails originally developed for the prestigious America’s Cup – the oldest and still one of the most esteemed sailing competitions. Canopée now stands as a symbol of sustainable innovation and a tangible step forward in the energy transition.
François Deneu (ArianeGroup), Victor Gibon (Alizés), Emmanuel Schalit (CEO OceanWings) and Jérémy Bertaud (VPLP) receive the Henri Kummerman Prize 2025 for the Canopée (from left to right).
Equipped with four folding wingsails covering a total surface area of approximately 1,400 m², Canopée was christened in October 2023 and has since set new benchmarks in maritime transport. Its pioneering hybrid propulsion system enables an annual reduction of around 7,200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and delivers fuel savings of roughly 30%.
I am honoured to accept the Henri Kummerman Prize for Canopée on behalf of ArianeGroup. Above all, this award represents recognition from the seafaring community itself, a tribute to ArianeGroup’s commitment to innovation and our willingness to chart a new course toward more sustainable maritime transport. I extend my sincere gratitude to all the teams who made this project a reality. I also want to acknowledge our colleagues at ArianeGroup who regularly work with this remarkable vessel in Le Havre, Bordeaux, Bremen and Kourou; their pride is shared by a much wider community.
“Having believed in this project and worked hard to bring it to life, I feel immense pride in seeing this innovative and pioneering vessel recognised by the maritime community,” said Éric Le Nechet, transport expert at ArianeGroup. “We share this honour with all the teams whose enthusiasm at every port of call – and adaptability to this new vessel – have made it a success. This visionary project proves that with determination and conviction, even the impossible can become reality.”
