K Line to Cut Ship Emissions with Automated Power Kites

Japanese shipping giant K Line has signed a major agreement with France-based Airseas, a developer of automated power kites for ships, during Nor-Shipping 2019.

Under the 20-year deal signed on June 6, Airseas would install and service one ship with Seawing. Once the first kite is delivered, K Line would consider ordering up to 50 automated 1000 sqm kites based on parafoil technology to tow their commercial ships in order to save more than 20% fuel and CO2 emissions.

The deal was finalized after two years of close technical and business cooperation between the parties and is part of K Line’s strategy to comply with the International Maritime Organization’s upcoming sulphur cap rule.

“Harnessing power from the wind is the cleanest and most competitive way to reduce CO2,” K Line said.

Airseas’ technology reduces the environmental footprint of a Capesize vessel by 5,200 tons of CO2 per year depending on the vessel voyage route. This would help K Line achieve its goal to halve CO2 emissions by 2050.