Giant kite will pull a ship across Atlantic

Wind powers many sailboats, but a new invention will tow a ship in similar fashion to a kiteboarder.

The Airseas company designed a massive 5,380-square-foot parafoil kite to pull a 505-foot freighter across the Atlantic.

The kite is designed to reduce the ship’s fuel requirements while lowering harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The first test is set for January on a ship that transports Airbus A320 plane sections to the United States from France.

The captain deploys the kite autonomously with the push of a button from the bridge. Computers plot a route that favors the most fuel savings and continuously orients the kite to maximize efficiency.

The Airseas kite, called Seawing, could allow freighters to save up to 40% on fuel while lowering CO2 emissions by 20%.