Airseas

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.

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

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

• Wind propulsion systems
• Maritime decarbonization
• Automated kite systems
• Wind-assisted ship propulsion
• Cargo ship retrofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Installation and Integration Services: Professional services including ship/fleet diagnosis, integration studies, installation during port visits, and commissioning support.
3. Customer Support and Maintenance: 24/7 operational support services including technical expertise and operational assistance for deployed systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ('K' Line)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese 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.
• NervurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench paraglider manufacturer based in Soulom, Hautes-Pyrénées. Manufacturing partner for Seawing wings collaborating with Airseas' fly team since company creation.
• MaxSea (TimeZero)coreTechnology or IntegrationMarine 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.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupply 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 VeritascoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading classification society providing formal approval for Seawing operations at sea following 3 years of collaboration on development and early trials.
• Louis Dreyfus ArmateurscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean committee working with Commission on decarbonization roadmap. Airseas is industrial member and board member, promoting wind propulsion as integral to zero-emission roadmap.
• WaterbornecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean technology platform linking EU with maritime sector stakeholders including ship owners, class companies, shipyards, and research institutes.
• French Maritime Cluster (CMF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCluster bringing French maritime leaders together to promote activities and support sector development and wind propulsion.
• GICAN (Groupement des Industries de Construction et Activités Navales)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of French maritime sector actors and subcontractors. Airseas working to integrate wind propulsion into working groups.
• Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique (PMBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime competitiveness cluster for French Atlantic coast. Approved Seawing development in 2020.
• Respect Ocean AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/Airseas_Tech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airseas-tech
• Instagraminstagram.com/airseas_tech
• Facebookfacebook.com/airseasofficial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airseas