5 good reasons to set up your sail transport business in Nantes or Saint-Nazaire
As pioneers in eco-friendly maritime innovation, Nantes and Saint-Nazaire have established themselves as essential hubs for players in the sail transport sector. Thanks to their long-standing maritime expertise and an ecosystem dedicated to the sector’s energy transition, these regions offer a unique environment for developing carbon-free propulsion solutions. Here are five reasons to choose Nantes or Saint-Nazaire for your project.
1. A Technological Edge in Sustainable Marine Propulsion
In Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, wind is becoming a powerful driver of innovation. From rigid sails to automated inflatable wings, the technologies developed in the region are at the cutting edge. Airseas, an Airbus spin-off, is designing a giant wing that can reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent. Neoline, for its part, is focusing on sail-powered cargo ships capable of reducing CO₂ emissions from maritime transport by up to 90 percent. The region is drawing on centuries of naval expertise to build the future.
2. A dynamic and committed industrial sector
The region is home to a growing number of companies involved in sail transport. CWS, based in Saint-Nazaire at the site of the former fruit terminal, plans to create more than 200 jobs with its new generation of rigid sails. Farwind Energy is developing rotors for alternative energy sources, including offshore hydrogen production. At Chantiers de l’Atlantique, engineers are designing Solid Sail, a large-format sail intended for cruise ships. In Nantes, Michelin has launched WISAMO, an inflatable and retractable wing for merchant and recreational vessels. And these are just a few examples!
3. Le Brick: The Hub of Excellence for Maritime Innovation
Located in the heart of Nantes, Le Brick is a center of excellence dedicated to carbon-free maritime technologies. Located on the banks of the Loire River, its 6,000 m² facility brings together startups, SMEs, and industrial companies such as Airseas, Finsulate, and Kopadia in a space designed for production, experimentation, and collaboration. Le Brick perfectly embodies the spirit of shared innovation that drives the region.
4. A Structured and Promising Ecosystem
Competitiveness clusters, engineering schools, research centers, support organizations… The region benefits from a dense and active ecosystem. Notable examples include Centrale Nantes, ENSM, IRT Jules Verne, Neopolia, the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, and the EMC2 cluster. In Nantes, the Wind Ship association plays a key role in accelerating the maritime sector’s ecological transition, and the MEET2050 institute, dedicated to energy-efficient engineering, has further strengthened the region’s expertise.
5. Wind for Goods: The Industry’s International Showcase
On June 19 and 20, 2025, Wind for Goods returns to Saint-Nazaire. This international event, the only one of its kind in Europe, will bring together 70 exhibitors and 1,000 visitors to showcase the latest innovations in sail transport. It’s the perfect opportunity for companies to showcase their prototypes, meet future partners, and position themselves at the heart of a rapidly expanding industry.
Want to set up your business in Nantes or Saint-Nazaire?
