New Aquitaine by Train: A 7-Day Car-Free Itinerary
by
Published on 7/3/27
How do we process your data?
We use cookies to improve your browsing experience and personalize our content. They are mainly used for statistical purposes.
On August 24, 2026, The government announced funding for six new low-carbon vessel projects as part of France 2030, for a total of 21.4 million euros. This is news we can only welcome (especially since one of the recipients is none other than our partner Sailcoop, which already enables members of the HOURRAIL Club! to enjoy exclusive discounts on sailing crossings to Corsica and the Glénan Islands). We’ll tell you more about this announcement, the resulting sailing ferry project, and, more broadly, France’s stance on decarbonizing maritime transport.
On August 24, 2026, three ministers (Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transportation; Catherine Chabaud, Minister of Maritime Affairs; Sébastien Martin for Industry) announced six new winners of the “CORIMER Low-Carbon Ships” call for projects, for a total of 21.4 million euros. This is the second round of funding under this program, and it confirms a genuine shift in the French maritime sector.
CORIMER (Advisory Council for Research and Innovation in the Maritime Industry) is the body that, on behalf of the government, oversees support for innovation in the French maritime sector. Launched in January 2025 and operated by ADEME on behalf of the General Secretariat for Investment, the “Low-Carbon Vessel” call for projects aims to foster the development of French industrial solutions capable of rapidly reducing emissions from maritime transport, while strengthening the technological sovereignty of the shipbuilding sector.
Of the 17 proposals submitted, six were selected, each focusing on a different approach to decarbonization:
| Project | Carrier | Decarbonization Lever | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDS 3 | Grain de Sail Shipping + Chantiers de l'Atlantique | Sail-powered cargo ships | Brittany |
| EO3 | Energy Observer + EO Concept | Multi-energy chain | Brittany |
| Searenity | Subsea Tech + Naval Group, ENSTA, University of South Brittany, CMA CGM | Biofouling-Cleaning Drone | Pays de la Loire |
| Corsica Favorite 2025 | Sailcoop | Fossil-Fuel-Free Passenger Ship | New Aquitaine |
| Vectra | Union of Port Pilots of Marseille and the Gulf of Fos | Electric harbor launch | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Biogas | Sapaic Industries + FEV | 1,000-kW Biomethane Engine | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
Regarding the individual amount allocated to each project, the government press release mentions only the total budget of 21.4 million euros for all six. It should also be noted that while this type of program funds research, development, or demonstration projects, it does not fund solutions that have already been commercially deployed. Several of these vessels therefore currently exist only on paper.
This second round of funding follows an initial round, announced on February 6, 2026, which had already provided 6.8 million euros in support for three projects. In total, there are now nine projects funded by France 2030 under this program, for a total of 28.2 million euros. And more are expected to follow, as CORIMER launched a new call for expressions of interest at the end of July 2026 to identify the next projects to be supported (open until September 30, 2026).
Of the six winners, one name is particularly familiar to us: the sailboat travel cooperative Sailcoop. Its project, called “Corsica Favorite 2025,” aims to take its mainland-Corsica route to a whole new level.
Article
Sailcoop: the alternative to flying to Corsica or crossing the Atlantic
Specifically, the Corsica Favorite 2025 project involves the design, construction, and operation of a passenger ship powered entirely by renewable energy for crossings between the mainland and Corsica, with the goal of a reduction of at least 80% in CO2 emissions per passenger. A ship that aims to be the “world’s first sailing ferry, designed to carry 80 passengers between Corsica and the mainland”—ten times the capacity of its current sailboats on the Corsica route (8 passengers).
In practice, the vessel is to be built at the Chantier de l'Arsenal shipyard in La Rochelle—the same shipyard that previously delivered Sailcoop’s Glénan Line catamaran in 2024—with a beam of 12 meters, a cruising speed of 8.5 knots, and a primary sail propulsion system supplemented by a hybrid electric auxiliary engine and HVO 100 for port maneuvers. Admittedly, this supplemental fuel is still a biofuel, which slightly qualifies the “zero fossil fuels” claim used by the government. However, the targeted reduction (-80% CO2 per passenger) remains extremely significant. The goal is to have the ship in service by 2028.
No need to wait until 2028 to test the concept! Sailcoop is already operating sailing crossings toward the Glénan Islands (departing from Concarneau and Beg-Meil) and to Corsica (departing from Saint-Raphaël), on 15-meter sailboats that accommodate 8 passengers. As a member of the HOURRAIL Club!, in addition to all the other exclusive Club benefits, you’ll enjoy 10% off the Glénan collection and 5% off the Corsica route.
Decarbonizing the maritime sector does not depend on a single technology. In addition to Sailcoop, the five other winning projects address a wide range of approaches.
Grain de Sail, Already known for transporting its coffee and chocolate by sailing cargo ship since 2020, the company is now leading the GDS 3 project in partnership with Chantiers de l'Atlantique: a demonstration container ship powered primarily by sails, developed in Brittany. The goal is to establish a French industrial sector for sail-powered freight shipping, capable of producing exportable low-carbon cargo ships.
The Searenity project, led by Subsea Tech Together with Naval Group, ENSTA, and CMA CGM, it is developing an autonomous underwater drone to remove biofouling—the marine growth that increases hull drag and fuel consumption on ships. Meanwhile, the Vectra project is electrifying a high-speed patrol boat used by harbor pilots at the entrances to major ports, such as Marseille-Fos. These are two complementary approaches: reducing the fuel consumption of existing ships rather than waiting for new propulsion systems.
That's the goal of the project Biogas, led by Sapaic Industries in partnership with the equipment manufacturer FEV: to develop a 1,000-kW V12 gas engine powered by biomethane, a renewable resource available in France. This funding will enable the engine to be tested and its electronic control unit to be developed, offering an alternative to electrification for heavy-duty vehicles, where batteries remain ill-suited.
Our best train deals, straight to your inbox
As we know, the traditional ferry is not a low-carbon mode of transportation. Its fuel consumption and emissions per passenger remain high (as detailed below). But for many routes, particularly to islands, it is sometimes the only practical alternative to flying: there isn’t always a rail or road alternative for traveling to Corsica, Sardinia, or other island destinations. And it is this lack of options that makes projects like Corsica FAVORITE so meaningful: offering, on these limited routes, a true low-carbon alternative to the conventional ferry, rather than having to choose between flying and a boat that pollutes almost as much.
To date, there are no official ADEME emission factors for passenger shipping: unlike for rail or air travel, the calculation method is still a subject of debate among researchers (allocation of emissions among passengers, cargo, and vehicles on board, consideration of load factor, etc.). What we do know, however, is that a conventional ferry consumes significant amounts of heavy fuel oil: on the mainland-Corsica route, Sailcoop estimates these emissions at 219 kg of CO2 equivalent per passenger for a standard ferry crossing—a figure the cooperative has been citing for several years and that the independent media outlet Vert has reported.
In contrast, Sailcoop’s sailing crossings drastically reduce this carbon footprint: during its first season of operation (2022), the cooperative estimates that it emitted 12.8 kg of CO₂ equivalent per passenger on that same route—a reduction of approximately 94% compared to a conventional ferry. Sailcoop is now releasing updated figures: 90 to 95% fewer emissions than a conventional ferry, depending on the type of crossing (day or night), and 85% fewer than air travel.
That is the whole point of projects like Corsica Favorite 2025: to move from a niche service (8 passengers per crossing) to one capable of handling a significant portion of the traffic to Corsica, while preserving the unique experience of a sailing crossing. For shorter routes, such as those to Groix, Belle-Île, or the Glénan Islands, sailing has already proven its worth and functions as a true daily shuttle during the season.
Article
Sailing from France: All Our Destinations Without Flying
Trains remain, by a wide margin, the lowest-carbon mode of land transportation for long distances. But France’s strategy for decarbonizing transportation doesn’t stop at the rails: from sail-powered freight to low-carbon ferries and the electrification of port operations, the entire freight and passenger transport chain is involved. This will gradually but surely expand the range of ways to travel from France without flying.
It’s hard to claim victory too soon. Most of these six projects are still demonstrators or solutions in the testing phase, with deployment scheduled to begin in 2027–2028. The financial and operational scale also remains modest: 21.4 million euros (28.2 million cumulatively since 2025), compared to a maritime sector that alone accounts for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
And these nuances in no way diminish the value of this initiative: every metric ton of CO2 avoided counts. Above all, these projects demonstrate that a French maritime decarbonization sector is taking shape on several fronts at once, from sail propulsion to biomethane.
Of course, as with trains, the best way to travel with a low carbon footprint is often to travel shorter distances, less frequently, or in a different way: technological innovation complements moderation; it does not replace it. But these alternatives offer additional options for reaching the French islands and coasts without boarding a plane.
In the meantime, the best way to support this movement is to start traveling differently today. By joining the HOURRAIL Club!, you get access to our Premium app to plan your trips without flying or driving, and—best of all—discounts negotiated with our partners like Sailcoop (as well as other low-carbon travel partners: 15% off sailing crossings to Belle-Île with The Islanders and on the ferries to Groix Island with Bag Hatoup, as well as discounts on your accommodations—for example, €34 off your reservation GreenGo and 20% off your membership HomeExchange, and of course discounts on your train tickets all year round—right now, 25% off all trips Eurostar and 20% off the Caledonian Sleeper (to travel to Scotland by train).
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
