Airseas
Airseas, founded in 2016 in Nantes and now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ('K' Line), designs and operates the Seawing automated kite propulsion system that tows large cargo vessels with a 1,000 m² parafoil wing to deliver ~20% fuel and emissions reductions for shipowners and cargo charterers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNantes, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Airseas does
Airseas (legal entity OCEANICWING S.A.S.) is a French maritime cleantech company founded in 2016 by former Airbus engineers Vincent Bernatets and Benoît Gagnaire, headquartered in Nantes with additional offices in La Rochelle and Saint-Nazaire and a planned Japanese presence in Sasebo. The company designs, manufactures, and operates the Seawing system — an automated kite propulsion solution in which a 500–1,000 m² parafoil wing flies at approximately 300 meters altitude in dynamic figure-of-eight patterns to deliver up to 100 tonnes of traction, controlled from the bridge via a flight control pod and supported by a Digital Twin that synchronizes every 300 milliseconds. Seawing is targeted at large commercial vessels above 50,000 DWT (bulk carriers, tankers, Ro-Ro, PCTC, gas carriers) and is positioned as an immediate decarbonization tool delivering around 20% average fuel and emissions reductions, installable in roughly 24 hours without dry-docking.
Airseas generates revenue through hardware sales of Seawing systems complemented by professional services (fleet diagnosis, integration studies, installation during routine port calls, and commissioning) and ongoing 24/7 managed support. Pricing is quote-based and contract-driven, typically structured as multi-year enterprise agreements with major shipowners. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales to shipping lines, naval architects, classification societies (notably Bureau Veritas, which formally approved the system), and port operators, supported by industry trade shows and PR. In January 2024 the company was acquired by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ('K' Line) through OCEANICWING, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Japanese shipowner and securing a 20-year framework agreement for up to 50 vessels (5 firm orders, 46 options).
The company is currently transitioning from pilot deployments (Ville de Bordeaux since December 2021, Cape Brolga since December 2022) toward industrialization: Phase Two development launched in July 2025 to scale up the kite, with a dedicated production site targeted to open by 2025 and a serial-production factory planned for 2026. The longer-term ambition articulated by the company is to deploy approximately 600 Seawing units by 2030 across a TAM of more than 28,000 vessels over 5,000 tons worldwide.
Airseas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Airseas
- Legal name
- OCEANICWING S.A.S.
- Website
- https://airseas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Airseas, founded in 2016 in Nantes and now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ('K' Line), designs and operates the Seawing automated kite propulsion system that tows large cargo vessels with a 1,000 m² parafoil wing to deliver ~20% fuel and emissions reductions for shipowners and cargo charterers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Airseas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion Systems
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)
- SIC
- Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Advanced Wind Technology R&D (Floating Offshore, Airborne Wind, New Rotor/Blade Concepts) (EUAMAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Flight Control Actuation Systems (Fly-by-Wire, Servos, Actuators) (IMABAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Airseas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Airseas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Seawing System Sales: Sale of automated kite propulsion systems to ship owners for installation on cargo vessels. Systems include wing, flight control pod, deck equipment, and software. Revenue from initial system sale plus ongoing support services.
- Installation and Integration Services: Professional services including ship/fleet diagnosis, integration studies, installation during port visits, and commissioning support.
- Customer Support and Maintenance: 24/7 operational support services including technical expertise and operational assistance for deployed systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Custom Solutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Airseas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Airseas designs, manufactures, and installs the Seawing automated kite propulsion system for cargo ships. The system combines a 1000m² parafoil wing, an autopilot flight control pod, automated deck equipment, and proprietary Digital Twin and EcoRouting software to tow commercial vessels using wind power. Airseas sells the integrated hardware-plus-software system, installs it during routine port calls in about 24 hours without dry dock, and provides 24/7 operational support.
Product overview
Airseas offers a single unified product: the Seawing automated kite propulsion system. Seawing is an integrated wind propulsion solution comprising hardware components (traction wing, flight control pod, deck equipment including mast/winches/storage, bridge control panel) and software components (Digital Twin for trajectory modeling and EcoRouting for route optimization with MaxSea TimeZero integration). The system is designed for retrofit installation on existing cargo vessels and can be installed in 24 hours. Airseas provides full-service support from diagnosis through installation and commissioning, with 24/7 operational support. The Seawing system targets vessels over 50,000 DWT including bulk carriers, tankers, gas carriers, Ro-Ro vessels, and car carriers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Seawing4blue: EU co-funded project (grant agreement n° 101038256) aimed at finalizing development of the Seawing product and preparing for industrialization and serial production.
- Seawing
- EcoRouting
- Le Brick
Products and services
- Seawing Automated Kite Propulsion System Automated kite propulsion system combining a 1000m² parafoil wing flying at 300m altitude, a flight control pod with autopilot actuators, automated deck equipment (mast, carts, winches, storage), and proprietary Digital Twin and EcoRouting software. Designed for retrofit on existing cargo vessels above 50,000 DWT, including bulk carriers, tankers, gas carriers, Ro-Ro vessels, and car carriers. Installed in 24 hours without dry dock and operated from the bridge at the push of a button.
- Seawing Installation and Integration Services Professional services covering ship and fleet diagnosis, integration studies, on-site installation during routine commercial port calls (no dry dock required), and commissioning support for Seawing-equipped vessels. Provided to ship owners, naval architects, classification societies, and port operators.
- Seawing 24/7 Customer Support and Maintenance Managed services offering 24/7 operational support for deployed Seawing systems, including technical expertise and operational assistance for fleet operators of Seawing-equipped vessels.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% average reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Airseas
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Airseas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Airseas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ('K' Line)flagshipJapanese shipowner with 5th largest fleet globally. The only shareholder of Airseas through OCEANICWING (created January 2024). 'K' Line was Airseas' biggest customer since 2019 with 5 firm orders and options for 46 additional Seawing systems. 20-year agreement for Seawing deployment on up to 50 vessels.
- NervurescoreFrench paraglider manufacturer based in Soulom, Hautes-Pyrénées. Manufacturing partner for Seawing wings collaborating with Airseas' fly team since company creation.
- MaxSea (TimeZero)coreMarine software editor providing TimeZero navigation software adapted for EcoRouting solution. Software considers waves, wind, and weather to maximize Seawing use while guaranteeing ETD/ETA.
- ALUULA Composites Inc.coreSupply agreement with ALUULA to provide composite fabrics for Seawing kites for cargo vessels. Supports Phase 2 development including larger kites and upcoming sea trials in 2026.
- Bureau VeritascoreLeading classification society providing formal approval for Seawing operations at sea following 3 years of collaboration on development and early trials.
- Louis Dreyfus ArmateurscoreFrench shipping company operating Ville de Bordeaux, the first commercial vessel equipped with Seawing. Provides operational support and collaboration for sea trials and system validation.
- International Windship Association (IWSA)coreAssociation for promotion of wind propulsion for maritime commerce. Airseas member contributing to technical working groups and institutional events.
- STEERER (Structuring Towards Zero Emission Waterborne Transport)coreEuropean committee working with Commission on decarbonization roadmap. Airseas is industrial member and board member, promoting wind propulsion as integral to zero-emission roadmap.
- WaterbornecoreEuropean technology platform linking EU with maritime sector stakeholders including ship owners, class companies, shipyards, and research institutes.
- French Maritime Cluster (CMF)minorCluster bringing French maritime leaders together to promote activities and support sector development and wind propulsion.
- GICAN (Groupement des Industries de Construction et Activités Navales)minorAssociation of French maritime sector actors and subcontractors. Airseas working to integrate wind propulsion into working groups.
- Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique (PMBA)minorMaritime competitiveness cluster for French Atlantic coast. Approved Seawing development in 2020.
- Respect Ocean AssociationminorNGO encouraging economic activities while preserving oceans and marine biodiversity. Airseas General Secretary Stephanie Lesage on Board of Directors.
Scale indicators19 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Airseas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BAR Technologies (WindWings): BAR Technologies designs WindWings, rigid wing sails for cargo ships, and partnered with Cargill to install them on dry bulk vessels. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor in commercial-scale wind-assisted ship propulsion, pursuing the same large-cargo-ship retrofit opportunity.
- Norsepower: Norsepower (Finland) manufactures Flettner rotor sails installed on cargo ships to provide auxiliary wind propulsion. Targets the same IMO-driven wind-assist retrofit market as Airseas, with multiple commercial installations already in service on large vessels.
- bound4blue: bound4blue develops suction-sail (rotating cylinder) wind-assisted propulsion systems for commercial shipping. Sells to ship owners seeking CII/EU ETS compliance, overlapping directly with Airseas' Seawing retrofit value proposition.
- Michelin (WISAMO): Michelin's WISAMO unit produces inflatable, automatically-furlable wing sails that can be mounted on cargo ships. Competes in the same wind-assisted propulsion retrofit market with a similar plug-and-play, automated-deployment philosophy to Airseas.
- Anemoi Marine Technologies: Anemoi supplies mechanically-driven rotor sails for bulk carriers and tankers, enabling wind-assisted propulsion on large commercial vessels. Directly comparable to Airseas in addressing the >50,000 DWT vessel retrofit segment.
- Becker Marine Systems (COBRA): Becker Marine Systems offers the COBRA rotor sail, an early commercial wind-assist technology for cargo ships. It competes in the same fuel-saving retrofit space, particularly on bulk carriers and tankers, and represents a more established but less automated alternative to Seawing.
- Eco Marine Power: Eco Marine Power develops the EnergySail — a rigid sail / wind-power device for ships — together with onboard solar and energy storage. Targets the same decarbonization retrofit opportunity as Airseas, with overlap on bulk carriers and tankers in Asia-Pacific.
- GT Wings: GT Wings produces fixed aerodynamic wing sails optimized for specific commercial ship routes. Pursues the same wind-assist value proposition as Airseas but with a rigid-wing approach rather than autonomous kite, addressing similar vessel segments.
Emerging players
- SkySails: SkySails (Germany) is the historical pioneer of kite-ship propulsion, having developed towing-kite systems for cargo vessels over the past two decades. Closely comparable technology lineage to Airseas' Seawing, though with different commercial deployment history.
- Kitepower: Kitepower develops ground-based, airborne wind energy systems using kites for renewable electricity generation. While serving a different end market (stationary power vs. marine propulsion), it shares core kite-control, automation and composite-kite engineering with Airseas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Airseas social profiles
Digital presenceAirseas compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Airseas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Airseas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Airseas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Airseas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Airseas
What does Airseas do?
Airseas designs, manufactures, and installs the Seawing automated kite propulsion system for cargo ships. The system combines a 1000m² parafoil wing, an autopilot flight control pod, automated deck equipment, and proprietary Digital Twin and EcoRouting software to tow commercial vessels using wind power. Airseas sells the integrated hardware-plus-software system, installs it during routine port calls in about 24 hours without dry dock, and provides 24/7 operational support.
Is Airseas a public or private company?
Airseas is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Airseas founded?
Airseas was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Airseas based?
Airseas is headquartered in Nantes, France, in the Europe region.
How does Airseas make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Seawing System Sales are the primary driver. The others are installation and Integration Services and customer Support and Maintenance.
Who are Airseas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BAR Technologies (WindWings), Norsepower, bound4blue, Michelin (WISAMO), Anemoi Marine Technologies, Becker Marine Systems (COBRA), Eco Marine Power and GT Wings. Emerging players are SkySails and Kitepower.
Does Airseas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Airseas.
What industry is Airseas in?
Airseas's product category is Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAB, Advanced Wind Technology R&D (Floating Offshore, Airborne Wind, New Rotor/Blade Concepts), with a secondary code of IMABAFAJ, Flight Control Actuation Systems (Fly-by-Wire, Servos, Actuators). Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3728.