“K” Line to equip more bulkers with Seawing kite systems

Airseas SAS has received a contract to supply its Seawing automatic kite units for a further three Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) vessels.

The shipping firm will deploy the additional Seawing systems on three post-Panamax bulkers.

“K” Line previously selected the system for two of its Capesize bulk carriers, with the first installation scheduled to be carried out in December.

This will be followed by the deployment of the system on a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-driven ship that is currently under construction at Nihon Shipyard in Japan.

The technology is said to help lower CO₂ emissions by more than 20%.

Mounted on a ship’s bow, Seawing is ‘unfolded by simple operation from the bridge under certain conditions of wind power and wind direction, and assists propulsion power of the vessel’.

The companies also reached a technology development agreement to efficiently use the traction power from Seawing based on renewable energy.

Integrating “K” Line’s vessel operation and performance management system, Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions, with Seawing’s development technology will allow the companies to enhance the systems’ performance.

In a statement, the company said: ““K” Line is working to realise sustainable society and increase corporate value and reduce its environmental impact to achieve our goal of “Net Zero GHG Emissions by 2050” set forth in the “K” Line Environmental Vision 2050 through the innovation of various environmental improvement technologies, such as Seawing.”

Recently, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) partnered with “K” Line to carry out research and pilot projects to decarbonise bulk cargo shipping.