What Zephyr & Boree does

Zéphyr & Borée is a French maritime company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Dinan (Brittany) that designs, finances, and operates low-carbon, sail-powered cargo vessels. The company integrates rigid wing sails, automated sail systems (OceanWings), and computed wing sails with conventional mechanical propulsion running on diesel, methanol, or hydrogen, combined with a proprietary weather-routing tool developed with D-Ice Engineering. Its product portfolio spans six vessel programs: the operational Canopée 121m RoRo serving ArianeGroup via the Alizés joint venture with Jifmar Offshore Services; the Williwaw 5-ship fleet of 1,304 TEU carbon-free container vessels planned for transatlantic Europe-USA service; the Windcoop 136m sail-powered container vessel under cooperative ownership for a Marseille-Madagascar route; the Gwalarn 179m multi-function RoRo; the Meltem 1,800 TEU wind-assisted container ship; and the ZEPH₂ hydrogen-diesel hybrid Crew Transfer Vessel for offshore wind operators. Reported decarbonization outcomes range from 20-50% fuel and CO2 reduction on conventional routes to 80% on Williwaw and 90% on transatlantic Windcoop service.

The company operates a B2B, sales-led, enterprise field-sales model, designing custom vessels through multi-party technical consortia and managing construction, financing, and operation. Revenue streams include freight transport fees (transaction-based) and technical/operational ship management services for both dedicated charter contracts (ArianeGroup) and cooperative shippers (Windcoop). Headcount stands at 15-20 employees across naval architecture, propulsion engineering, project management, operations, finance, and legal. The team is led by four co-founders — Nils Joyeux (Chairman), Amaury Bolvin (Managing Director), Victor Depoers (Technical Director), and Bernard Peignon — with strategic shareholders Jean-Michel Germa (SOPER), Françoise Brenckmann (IRIS Foundation), and Francis Vallat (Cluster Maritime Français).

The business has attracted non-dilutive public funding (France 2030, FEDER, Région Bretagne and adjoining local authorities, AMI CORIMER) and high-credibility industry recognition (Ship of the Year 2023 at Maritime Awards Gala Rotterdam; Henri Kummerman Prize 2023 from the French Académie de Marine; Bureau Veritas Approval In Principle for ZEPH₂ in January 2025). Pricing is multi-year contract-based, with disclosed vessel construction cost premiums of roughly 20% over conventional tonnage, offset over the asset lifetime by fuel savings. The competitive position rests on first-mover status in modern sail-powered commercial shipping, a 99.6% OceanWings availability record on Canopée, and regulatory tailwinds from the IMO 50% CO2 reduction target by 2050.

Name

Zephyr & Boree

Legal name

Zéphyr & Borée

Website

https://zephyretboree.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zéphyr & Borée is a French maritime company that designs, finances, and operates low-carbon, sail-powered cargo vessels. It serves enterprise customers across aerospace (ArianeGroup), transatlantic shipping, offshore wind, and fair-trade logistics with hybrid wind-plus-alternative-fuel propulsion technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wind-Powered Maritime Shipping

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems (IMAJAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Propulsion, Power & Energy Systems Design (Diesel, Hybrid, Electric, Alternative Fuels) (IMAJAGAE), Specialized Cargo Vessels (Cement/Asphalt/Woodchip/Live-Animal) Shipbuilding (IMAJAAAL)

Keywords

• Sail-powered shipping
• Low-carbon cargo vessels
• Wind-assisted propulsion
• Maritime decarbonization
• Sustainable maritime transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Roubaix

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cargo Ship Operation: Design, finance, operate and maintain low-carbon cargo ships for commercial shipping. Revenue generated from freight transport fees charged to customers. Hybrid sail-mechanical propulsion reduces fuel costs while meeting decarbonization requirements.
2. Ship Management Services: Technical and operational management of vessels including crew supervision, maintenance, and maritime operations. For Alizés joint venture managing Canopée for ArianeGroup.
3. Ship Management for Windcoop: Zéphyr & Borée responsible for ship management including construction supervision, operational follow-up, and crew management for Windcoop vessels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Zéphyr & Borée designs, finances, and operates low-carbon, wind-powered cargo ships for commercial maritime transport. The company develops hybrid propulsion vessels that combine rigid wing sails, automated OceanWings sails, or CWS sails with conventional or alternative-fuel engines (methanol, hydrogen), and delivers dedicated shipping services to enterprise customers such as ArianeGroup, transatlantic container shippers, and offshore wind operators. Its portfolio spans RoRo vessels, container ships, and a hydrogen Crew Transfer Vessel.

Product overview

Zéphyr & Borée is a maritime company specializing in low-carbon cargo shipping through wind propulsion technology. The company designs, finances, and operates a portfolio of sail-powered cargo vessels. Core products include: Canopée (121m RoRo for ArianeGroup), Windcoop (cooperative shipping with 136m container vessels), Williwaw (5 carbon-free 1,304 TEU container ships), Gwalarn (multi-function RoRo vessel), Meltem (1,800 TEU wind-assisted container ship), and ZEPH₂ (diesel-hydrogen hybrid CTV for offshore wind). The company employs hybrid propulsion combining wind sails (rigid wings, automated OceanWings, CWS sails) with conventional engines and alternative fuels (methanol, hydrogen).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canopée 121-meter roll-on/roll-off cargo ship equipped with four OceanWings automated sails (4 x 363 m²). Operated under multi-year dedicated charter with ArianeGroup (12 round trips per year to French Guiana) via the Alizés joint venture with Jifmar Offshore Services. Achieved 99.6% OceanWings system availability over two years of operation, 5.2 tons of daily fuel savings, and 20.8 tons of CO2 avoided per day.
• Windcoop Fair-trade activist cooperative shipping line offering a Marseille-to-Madagascar direct route in 30 days. First vessel is a 136 m container ship with 210 TEU capacity, 1,050 m² of rigid wing sails by Computed Wing Sails, and a sailboat-first hull design optimized for containers. Target outcomes: up to 60% CO2 reduction and up to 90% fuel savings on the transatlantic line, with transparent pricing and limited passenger berths.
• Williwaw Fleet of five carbon-free container ships (1,304 TEU each) equipped with six rigid wings (6 x 324 m²) and dual-fuel diesel-methanol propulsion. Operates two transatlantic routes between Antwerp/Le Havre and Philadelphia/Charleston with weekly service and 14-21 day transit times. Hybrid propulsion targets 50% thermal / 50% wind and an 80% carbon footprint reduction versus incumbent services.
• Gwalarn Multi-function roll-on/roll-off vessel at 179.20 meters in length with 11,200 DWT. Designed for unaccompanied trailers and light vehicles, with 2,539 lane meters total capacity (up to 185 trailers, or 105 trailers plus 700 light vehicles), 14 knots design speed, and wind-assisted propulsion.
• Meltem First large wind power-assisted container ship at 1,800 TEU capacity, featuring four pairs (eight sails total) of CWS wing sails and twin engine shafts. Reduces fuel consumption by up to 48% on transatlantic crossings at 13 knots; main engines of 2 x 4,950 kW. Construction cost premium of roughly 20% is described as offset by fuel savings over vessel lifetime.
• ZEPH₂ (H2ermine) Diesel-hydrogen hybrid Crew Transfer Vessel for offshore wind operations. Equipped with 800 kW fuel cells and up to 350 kg hydrogen storage. Targets more than 50% CO2 reduction versus conventional diesel CTVs, zero-emission port operations, and approximately 670 tonnes of CO2eq saved annually per vessel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.6% system availability for OceanWings sails on Canopée over two years of continuous operation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Alizés (Joint Venture: Zéphyr & Borée + Jifmar Offshore Services)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Joint venture between Zéphyr & Borée and Jifmar Offshore Services created to operate Canopée vessel. Alizés manages commercial operations including ship chartering for ArianeGroup transport contract.
• VPLP DesigncoreTechnology or IntegrationFamous naval architecture firm that designed Canopée vessel. Provided design expertise for wind-powered RoRo cargo ship meeting complex specifications for ArianeGroup.
• OceanWings (AYRO)coreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloper of automated sail technology (OceanWings) installed on Canopée. Achieved 99.6% system availability with continuous AI platform improvement. Shares Alizés joint venture interest.
• Neptune Shipyard (Neptune Marine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch shipyard that constructed Canopée vessel. Awarded Ship of the Year 2023 prize for the Canopée at Maritime Awards Gala.
• Computed Wing SailcoreTechnology or IntegrationCreator of rigid wing system for Williwaw container ships. Partnered with Zéphyr & Borée for wind propulsion technology integration.
• OSE EngineeringsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEngineering partner working on ship energy efficiency optimization for Williwaw project.
• Centrale NantessupportingTechnology or IntegrationEngineering school providing energy efficiency research and expertise for Williwaw container ship project.
• DykstracoreTechnology or IntegrationRenowned architectural firm collaborating on Windcoop design. Applied sailboat-first design approach then optimized hull for container loading.
• Groot Ship DesignsupportingTechnology or IntegrationShip design firm assisting with Windcoop project and providing design support across multiple Zéphyr & Borée projects.
• D-Ice EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloper of statistical weather routing tool used by Zéphyr & Borée for optimal route planning based on ship performance forecasts and historical wind data.
• Piriou EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaval architect and shipbuilder in ZEPH₂ consortium. Provides vessel design and construction expertise for hybrid diesel-hydrogen CTV project.
• Entech Smart EnergiescoreTechnology or IntegrationSpecialized energy conversion company in ZEPH₂ consortium. Develops power systems integration for hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.
• Sofresid Engineering (Ekium)supportingTechnology or IntegrationEngineering company in ZEPH₂ consortium providing engineering expertise for hybrid propulsion system integration.
• Compositic (Université Bretagne Sud)supportingTechnology or IntegrationResearch institute (Université Bretagne Sud) and ComposiTIC in ZEPH₂ consortium. Provides research support and lifecycle analysis.
• RMK MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShipyard based in Istanbul that signed contract to build Windcoop's first 136m sail-powered container vessel. Known builder of the Neoliner.
• ArcadiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner of Windcoop cooperative shipping company alongside Zéphyr & Borée and Enercoop founder Julien Noé.
• EnercoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding president Julien Noé from Enercoop co-founded Windcoop cooperative for carbon-free shipping. Represents ethical/sustainable business community.
• Bureau VeritassupportingOthersProvided Approval In Principle certification for ZEPH₂ hybrid CTV design in January 2025, an important step toward industrialization.
• Pôle Mer Bretagne AtlantiquesupportingOthersLabeling partner for ZEPH₂ project as part of Breton hydrogen propulsion ecosystem emergence.
• EMC2supportingOthersCompetitiveness cluster labeling ZEPH₂ project as part of collaborative innovation initiative.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Econowind: Dutch supplier of containerized wind-assist units (VentoFoils) installed on commercial vessels. Addresses the same wind-propulsion decarbonization use case as Z&B's integrated designs but as a retrofit product, making it a partial competitor and complementary technology partner.
• BAR Technologies: UK engineering firm behind WindWings rigid sail technology deployed on Cargill's Pyxis Ocean. Competes in the same modern rigid-wing wind-assist category as Computed Wing Sail's rigid wings on Williwaw, targeting the same decarbonizing bulk and container operators.
• Anemoi Marine Technologies: UK wind-assist propulsion provider offering folding rotor sails for cargo ships. Comparable as an emerging wind-propulsion specialist addressing the same regulatory tailwinds and shipping customers, though Anemoi supplies hardware rather than operating vessels directly.
• Norsepower: Finland-based provider of rotor sail (Flettner) wind-assist technology retrofitted onto commercial vessels. Complementary technology provider rather than direct competitor, but addresses the same shipper decarbonization problem and competes for the same maritime customers' wind-propulsion budgets.

Broad incumbents

• CMA CGM: Global container shipping major investing heavily in alternative fuels (methanol, LNG, biofuels) to meet IMO decarbonization targets. Represents the broad-incumbent path to the same end-market that Z&B serves via wind, and a potential partner or competitive threat depending on customer strategy.
• Maersk: World's largest container shipping line with explicit decarbonization roadmap ordering dual-fuel methanol vessels. Operates at a vastly larger scale and competes for the same low-carbon transatlantic cargo flows that Williwaw targets, representing the dominant industry alternative to Z&B's wind-propulsion approach.

Direct peers

• Fairtransport: Pioneer Dutch sail-cargo operator running Tres Hombres and other sailing cargo vessels on transatlantic and European routes. Closely comparable in customer segment (fair-trade, organic, low-impact shippers) and in cooperative/values-driven positioning overlapping with Windcoop.
• TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport): French sail-cargo startup operating wind-powered container vessels on transatlantic routes. Directly comparable in geography, technology (modern sail propulsion), and target customer base of ethical/low-carbon shippers, and competes for the same coalition-of-shippers model Z&B uses for Windcoop.
• Eco Clipper: Dutch sail-cargo venture building a fleet of brigantine-style sailing cargo ships for low-emission freight. Directly comparable business model (design, own, operate sail-cargo ships) and target market of ethically minded cargo owners, though smaller scale than Z&B's industrial vessel programs.
• Neoliner: French sail-cargo project developing a large hybrid wind-mechanical RoRo cargo ship with similar propulsion and customer logic to Z&B's Canopée/Williwaw. Direct peer in vessel type, propulsion approach, and French maritime ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zephyr-et-boree

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zephyr & Boree