EcoClipper, a shipping company that has developed a wind-driven emission-free cargo ship, has started to raise capital in cooperation with blockchain partner Bondex. The company plans to launch retrofitted and purpose-built sailing vessels capable of carrying cargo and passengers on a variety of international routes.
Recently, it was announced that EcoClipper will start operating on the North Sea – an attractive option which opens up sustainable shipping and travel from the UK to mainland Europe. The company has also developed a series of shipping lines: Trans-Atlantic, Eastern, Trans-Pacific and Global.
Also read: Cape Horn Engineering to help design hull for EcoClipper ship concept
One ship at a time
It takes substantial investments to build a global sustainable sailing ship fleet. However, the strategy of EcoClipper is based on investing in one ship at a time. As such, a series of investment tranches are offered through certificates in the EcoClipper Coöperatie U.A. The first tranche is aiming for EUR 140,000, to purchase the first retrofit vessel.
The second and third tranche will bring the financing to almost EUR 1 million. Follow-up rounds will become larger as the community of the company grows. Investments for the first tranche start at fifty certificates for a total price of EUR 350. Investors in the early rounds purchase certificates for a discount, while also investing in the future growth of the company.
‘At the end of last year, during the climate talks in Glasgow, it became obvious again that if we want a livable future all our industries need an immediate and absolute transition to sustainability,’ says CEO and founder of EcoClipper Captain Jorne Langelaan. ‘With EcoClipper, words are put into practice and everyone is invited to join and invest in shipping propelled by the power of the wind.’
Picture: Hull design of the first EcoClipper ship, the EcoClipper500.
Also read: Wind assisted ship propulsion puts the sail back into sailing
