France-based Sogestran subsidiary Compagnie Maritime Nantaise has awarded China's Guangzhou Shipyard International a contract to build a new hybrid ro-ro vessel fitted with wind-assist propulsion units. The ship will be used primarily to transport satellites, launch vehicles and other cargo supporting the European space industry, with delivery scheduled for 2030. Design work on the vessel is being carried out by French naval architecture firm VPLP. Cargo will be handled across a ro-ro deck, a dedicated compartment for space-related cargoes with controlled environmental conditions, and a flexible open deck. The vessel will also include a large main deck for rolling cargo on and off and a modular outer deck to provide additional logistical flexibility. Propulsion will combine mechanical systems with a sail-assisted setup comprising three automated OceanWings rigid sails. Sogestran said the design also incorporates hull optimisation, advanced meteorological route planning, system automation and compatibility with biofuels to reduce environmental impact. Marc-Antoine Girardet, chairman of the maritime division of the Sogestran Group, Compagnie Maritime Nantaise's parent company, said the vessel represents a further step in the group's business serving the European space sector, designed to meet customers' growing demands for safety, reliability and logistical flexibility. He said the contract followed several years of joint, interdisciplinary work across Sogestran Group, Compagnie Maritime Nantaise and Avio. According to TrustedDocks orderbook data, the order was placed and reported on 9 September 2026, covers a single vessel, and delivery is scheduled between January 2030 and December 2030.