Airseas’ Seawing system receives further orders from K Line. Airseas kite system takes to the air during sea trials

Tranquil dark and deep ocean with blue sky

International shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has ordered three further Seawing systems from manufacturer Airseas. The recent order means five of the company’s vessels will now utilize the wind propulsion technology to reduce emissions.

Once delivered to K Line the sustainable solutions will be installed on three Post-Panamax bulkers, after the first two systems are fitted to two Capesize bulkers toward the latter part of 2022. The Seawing systems consist of parafoils which fly around 300m above the sea to harness wind power to aid in vessel propulsion. This enables main engine load to be reduced and an expected average fuel and emissions saving of 20%.

The systems will utilize digital twins and advanced automation systems to ensure the Seawing systems are safely deployed, operated and stored with minimal interaction needed from the ship’s crew. In addition to the orders, Airseas and K Line have signed a technology development agreement which will see the duo integrating Seawing and K Lines’ vessel data platform – Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions ­– to maximize system performance.

France-based wind propulsion developer Airseas has revealed the first pictures and video footage of its automated kite system Seawing in flight during ongoing transatlantic sea trials.

The material is being revealed following the completion of the crucial initial stages of the trials, which are taking place on the vessel Ville de Bordeaux, as it transports aircraft components between Europe and the United States.

The 154m ro-ro vessel is operated by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and chartered by Airbus, Airseas’ minority shareholder and launch customer. A team of Airseas engineers is on board to test the system and gather data, with the operational support of LDA’s crew and Airbus’ Transport & Logistics department.

Airseas said that the first stages of the sea trials have validated key steps such as the folding and unfolding of the wing, take-off and landing, and flights in altitude. The next phase will test the Seawing in a broader range of weather conditions and fine-tune the automation system.

The footage shows the Seawing system in action, flying 200 meters above sea level, harnessing the power of the wind to propel the vessel and reduce the main engine load.

“Seeing the Seawing in action on a commercial vessel is such a proud moment for us, and the culmination of years of meticulous research and development,” Vincent Bernatets, CEO of Airseas, said.

“Testing a brand new technology in real-life conditions and while respecting the operational constraints of a commercial ship is an ambitious endeavour, and the solid progress of our sea trials is a testimony to the dedication of our team of engineers on board and on shore.”

Seawing aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by an average of 20%. Combining expertise from the aerospace and maritime sectors, it will use digital twins and advanced automation systems to ensure that it can be safely deployed, operated and stored at the push of a button, Airseas said. The solution can be installed on any type of commercial vessel

At present, Airseas has a 20-year agreement with K Line, with the option for the Seawing system to be installed on up to 50 of the shipping company’s vessels.
“We have adopted an ambitious net zero GHG emissions target by 2050, deploying technologies such as wind propulsion which is a key component of our strategy,” said Michitomo Iwashita, managing executive officer, K Line. “We are proud to be partnering with Airseas, a leader in the wind propulsion field, that has done so much to bring the technology into the next generation via the development of Seawing. We look forward to seeing it deployed on our fleets in the coming years.”

“K Line recognizes that ships being built now will need to meet the decarbonization standards of the 2040s and 2050s, as regulators and customers step up pressure for the industry to decarbonize,” said Vincent Bernatets, co-founder and CEO, Airseas. “Wind propulsion systems like the Seawing help lay the long-term foundations for the sustainable shipping of the future by reducing emissions right now, in addition to delivering a strong return on investment in the short term via fuel savings.”