PIRIOU Delivers Third Phénix-Class Wind-Powered Cargo Ship Atlantis to NEWTOWT

1 September 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

Earlier this summer, PIRIOU delivered the Atlantis to NEWTOWT, a new French shipping company formed after the takeover of TOWT. As the third sailing cargo vessel in the fleet and the first vessel delivered to the new shipowner, the Atlantis joins the Anémos and Artémis, both of which were delivered by PIRIOU in 2024. After leaving the PIRIOU shipyard in Vietnam in early August, the Atlantis is currently making a stopover at Le Port in Reunion Island to take on supplies at Quay 8, opposite the new TITAN dock at the Grand Port Maritime de La Réunion (GPMDLR). As announced by the shipowner, she will then set sail for Brazil on her first commercial crossing before calling at Le Havre.

(Image credit: PIRIOU)

This delivery represents a new milestone in the development of NEWTOWT’s fleet and in the deployment of a carbon-free maritime transport service based on wind propulsion. It also marks the continuation of an industrial project launched several years ago by PIRIOU in partnership with the shipowner and now being carried forward with NEWTOWT.

A New Milestone in the NEWTOWT Fleet

As a sister ship to the Anémos and Artémis, the Atlantis follows on from the Phénix class, the first two vessels of which entered service in 2024. Her design incorporates the tried-and-tested features of these ships and benefits from the experience gained throughout the program. Measuring 81 meters in length, this wind-powered cargo ship is designed to carry up to 1,100 tons of goods and uses sail propulsion as her main source of propulsion. She strengthens NEWTOWT’s ability to offer low-carbon maritime transport solutions. The ship is due to arrive in Le Havre in November, where an inauguration ceremony will be held.

Due for Delivery Before the End of the Year

The Atlantis will soon be joined by the Atlas, the fourth wind-powered cargo vessel in the fleet. Launched at the PIRIOU Vietnam shipyard last February and now fitted with its two masts, she is entering the final stages of completion before delivery.

A New Reference for PIRIOU

The delivery of the Atlantis marks a new milestone for PIRIOU in the field of civilian shipbuilding and low-carbon maritime transport. A pioneer in the construction of modern wind-powered cargo ships, PIRIOU draws on its integrated engineering and industrial capacities in France and internationally to support shipowners seeking to develop new maritime transport solutions. This latest delivery comes during a particularly successful year for the group, which recently delivered the Menawethan to the British shipping company Isles of Scilly Steamship Group and is continuing construction of the Scillonian IV. These programs demonstrate PIRIOU’s ability to offer high-value-added commercial vessels to French and international shipowners across markets as diverse as freight transport, passenger transport, and island services.

For PIRIOU, this ability to build complex vessels plays a key role in maintaining France’s industrial base and expertise in shipbuilding. It also helps to address the challenges of decarbonizing maritime transport and, more broadly, those of sovereignty and the resilience of supply chains.

Vincent Faujour, President of the PIRIOU group, said: “The delivery of the Atlantis to NEWTOWT marks a new chapter for the shipping company and the continuation of an industrial adventure that PIRIOU has been part of since the first wind-powered cargo ships, the Anémos and the Artémis. We are delighted to see the ship sailing and wish her and her crew an excellent first crossing to Brazil. With the Atlantis, and soon the Atlas, PIRIOU is confirming its role as a key industrial player in the development of low-carbon maritime transport solutions. Our expertise and our ability to build for both French and international shipowners are major assets in strengthening our industrial sovereignty and supporting the evolution of maritime transport.”

Key Specifications of the Atlantis: