Airseas validates Seawing wind propulsion during sea trials

The next phases of the sea trials will focus on testing dynamic flying, which allows the kite to maximise its traction power, as well as gathering performance data and fine-tuning the automated flight system.

“This latest milestone is a particularly important moment for the teams both on board and ashore, who have been working tirelessly to take this innovative system from concept to reality,” said Vincent Bernatets, CEO and co-founder of Airseas.

”Now we are moving forward with the renewed confidence that the Seawing works as planned, and we are excited to progress the trials and improve the kite’s performance in the coming weeks and months.”

Technical milestone

The validation of traction flights is the latest achievement in the technology’s ongoing sea trials, which are taking place during the Ville de Bordeaux’s commercial operations between Europe and the United States.

These trials aim to test the Seawing system, which was developed with expertise on flight control and automation from the aerospace sector and validate its performance.

The transatlantic trials are conducted by a team of Airseas engineers on board, with the support of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, which operates the Ville de Bordeaux and Airbus, in order to transport aircraft components.

Completion of these trials are an important step towards the industrialisation of the Seawing, with planning well underway to build a factory in Nantes in 2026.

Airseas is scaling up its company to meet demand for the solution, with commitments from major shipping lines such as K Line, with whom Airseas has a 20-year agreement, with options for the Seawing to be installed on up to 51 of its vessels in total.