According to The Cool Down, French startup Airseas tested a 250 square meters giant kite to see if it could pull a 21.500 ton cargo ship through the Atlantic.

The test was a success and company officials believe that, by combining the two propelling methods, the ship will use less fossil fuels, while the engines are going to be less strained and are going to produce less noise that disrupts local fauna.

In fact, Airseas officials say that the kite could reduce a ship's reliance on fossil fuels by as much as 20%.

As the shipping industry contributes to the global amount of greenhouse gas emissions with 3% and 90% of the products we buy are transported by sea, the impact of kite-propelled ships could be huge.

The International Maritime Organization knows the impact shipping has on the planet, which is why it is committed to reduce its emissions by 50% by mid-century.

Photo source: Airseas