Mallorca and the return of eco-friendly sailing transport
Long before the advent of large motorised cargo ships, Mallorca was already connected to the whole of the Mediterranean thanks to sailing vessels that transported goods between its ports. Today, as we seek more eco-friendly alternatives, traditional forms of commercial shipping with a minimal carbon footprint are being revived.
Today, the focus is on more sustainable transport
Concern for our own health and that of the planet is driving numerous projects aimed at achieving the green transition. Whether it be renewable energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric, etc.), electric vehicles or improving the energy efficiency of buildings, the world seems fully committed to this cause. Freight transport is also seeking viable alternatives, and has revived the use of sails as a highly useful aid for ships, even the most modern ones.
Sailing in the Mediterranean over the centuries
It was undoubtedly the Phoenicians who were the first to sail extensively across the Mediterranean, trading with various ports. The Greeks did so too, and later on, Rome established well-established trade routes from Hispania to the Italian peninsula, transporting wine, oil and many other goods. This continued into the Middle Ages, and Mallorca was a key hub for shipping during this period and the centuries that followed. In fact, Mallorca’s cartographic school produced the finest nautical charts of the medieval era. All this trade was always conducted using sailing ships, until the much faster steamships appeared in the 19th century.
Mallorca and trade routes with France
Aside from its links with other ports in the Mediterranean, Mallorca had very close commercial ties with the south of France. It is worth noting that, between 1865 and 1890, during the years of the phylloxera plague in Europe, wine exports from Mallorca experienced a real boom. This disaster for the vineyards had not yet reached the island, and from the port of Felanitx (Portocolom), countless ships laden with wines produced in Mallorca set sail for the port of Sète in France.
For many years, citrus fruits, cured meats and textiles were also exported from the port of Sóller to various ports on the southern French coast. The influence of French culture on the inhabitants of Sóller is still very much in evidence.
The revival of a historic Mediterranean link
Recently, a group of entrepreneurs from the south of France, led by Frédéric Dijol and Paul Guilhaumon, has taken the initiative to launch their own sailing transport service, with a near-zero carbon footprint.
Their vessel, the “Saveur”, can carry up to 2 tonnes of organic goods in its hold between Mallorca and various ports on the French southern coast: Port Camargue, Sète, Agde, Gruissan, Banyuls-sur-Mer… They already describe it as the first eco-friendly cargo sailing ship of the 21st century in the Mediterranean.
This initiative, named ÉOL-LIEN by its promoters, may seem to many little more than a romantic idea or even a utopia. However, it is already a reality, and its frequent trips to Mallorca to load oranges, lemons and other products from the island make it a small benchmark on the path to ecological transition.
Final thoughts
Healthy eating seems closely linked to respect for the environment and to producing and transporting food in a sensible way. The term ‘locality’ serves as a reminder that there is little point in producing food sustainably if we then have to burn tonnes of fossil fuels to get that carefully produced food into our pantries, even from another continent.
The EOL-LIEN project revives old trade routes between Mallorca and other Mediterranean ports and, above all, aims to contribute to improving the environment through much cleaner and more sustainable sailing transport.
We previously wrote an article that mentioned the connection with France. You can read it by following the link:
Origin of the tradition of producing pates in Mallorca