Ship&Offshore | Issue 01/2023
French kite sail developer claims 20% fuel savings
Toulouse-based Airseas has undertaken sea trials of its kite sail, Seawing, on board the Louis Dreyfus-owned cargo ship, Ville de Bordeaux , during a trans-Atlantic voyage. The 150m-long RoRo, on charter to European multinational aerospace company, Airbus, achieved average fuel and emission savings of 20% with the kite sail as it transported aircraft components between Europe and the US. In a video recorded during the sea trials, which were conducted jointly by Airseas, its minority shareholder and launch customer Airbus, and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs sea staff, the kite can be seen flying above the Ville de Bordeaux , about 200m above sea level....