MPV – multipurpose vessel

A MultiPurpose Service Dedicated to the Transport of Rolling and Conventional Cargo

The MultiPurpose Vessel (MPV) line specializes in the transport of rolling and conventional cargo. It offers a direct service from Northern Europe to French Guiana and the French Caribbean with the Marfret Niolon, a ro-ro vessel equipped with a ramp suitable for heavy cargo. With a capacity of 1212 linear meters, it can load a wide range of rolling cargo: trailers, construction machinery, fire trucks, tankers, coaches, light vehicles… The vessel can also accommodate sailboats on its deck or hazardous cargo on the return from the Caribbean and French Guiana. This provides real solutions for the hazardous waste treatment sector, which suffers from a lack of specialized facilities in the overseas territories.

Advantages of the MPV Service

Our primary advantage is experienced teams and expertise in the entire logistics chain.

We offer a wide range of specialized equipment, including mafi trailers, spreader beams, and cradles for transporting sailboats. The MPV service also provides 45′ curtainside containers particularly suited for transporting construction materials such as plasterboard sheets or cement big bags.

Another advantage is that the MPV service benefits from a connection with Marfret’s Ferrymar service from Pointe-à-Pitre. This allows us to extend the service to other Caribbean destinations, including Fort de France, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Martin.

A Sail-Assisted Propulsion System Awarded by Armateurs de France

Committed to energy transition, Marfret has equipped the Marfret Niolon with 21st-century sails. Four aluminum wings have been deployed on the ro-ro vessel, driven by the Trade Winds on the MPV line. They utilize the wind’s force, a clean, free, and inexhaustible energy, as a valuable aid to navigation, reducing fuel consumption by 10 to 15%.

The wings are easily deployable and are installed in 40-foot containers. Inside, the control system and hydraulics facilitate the deployment and stowing of the sails during port maneuvers. The quartermaster decides, from the bridge, to hoist the sails automatically based on weather conditions.

The sail system deployed by Marfret on the MPV service received the Trophée de la Charte Bleue from Armateurs de France in 2022, recognizing Marfret’s efforts in decarbonizing its operations.