Anicet Mbida 06:52, January 10, 2023

Anicet Mbida delivers to us every morning what is best in terms of innovation.

This Tuesday, he is interested in a kite-surf sail capable of pulling a container ship over 100 meters long.

The innovation of the day is the first freighter, not with a sail, but with a kite.

He must cross the Atlantic in the coming days.

He will cross the Atlantic with a type of kite that you have certainly seen on the beaches.

This is called a kite-surf sail (a surfboard pulled by a flying wing).

Except that this is a sail capable of pulling a container ship over a hundred meters long.

The interest?

Allow him to cut his engines from time to time and use only the force of the wind to save up to 20% fuel.

Because we remember: maritime transport is responsible for 4 to 5% of global CO2 emissions.

That is to say as much if not more than road transport.

In addition, we are talking about heavy fuel oil, extremely polluting, which emits a lot of toxic gases.

However, since January 1, the merchant navy has undertaken to reduce its emissions by 40%.

How will it work?

Are there going to be kitesurf pilots on the freighters?

No !

It would stretch their arms a little too much.

The wing is still 500 m2, which means tens of tons of traction.

So it will be a computer that will completely take care of the piloting: the take-off of the wing, the landing and the famous figure-eight movements to get shot.

Last year, it was the Germans from Skysails who carried out their first experiments.

In the coming days, the Toulousans from AirSeas will equip the "Ville de Bordeaux", a 154-meter freighter, with their own system.

He will take to the sea to transport aircraft parts between France and the United States.

The test is expected to last six months.

And if all goes well, the system will be extended to other regular lines.

Could we also use it for something other than freighters?

Yes, because it is a totally autonomous sail that can be installed on any motor boat.

It can therefore very well be considered as a complementary traction system for fishing boats, ferries or cruise liners.

We are also thinking about it to extend the autonomy of hydrogen boats.

This is the great return of sailing in maritime transport.

An original way to reduce pollution from all those old fuel-powered engines.