German shipping firm Beluga will launch its latest containership with a giant kite that flies 1,000 feet above the bow, Business 2.0 reports. It will cut fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent.
With carbon emissions from the shipping industry set to jump 75 percent by 2027, hybrid freighters may soon become a permanent fixture, according to the article.
SkySail, the company that created the kite, is targeting cruise ships, cargo vessels, oil tankers, fish trawlers, and big yachts.
The cost is $400,000-$800,000 per vessel and fuel savings (it's not clear if this is for Beluga's containership) are estimated at $1200 per day.
