Lomarlabs, a corporate venture lab of Lomar, has signed a collaboration agreement with maritime deep-tech start-up CargoKite to develop a new ship class of micro ships using large kite systems as the main method of propulsion and AI for autonomous operation.

The design aims to enable low or zero-emission transportation with the added advantage of being able to operate in more challenging and niche trades at any time, lomarlabs said, adding that the vessel’s proprietary, AI-powered route planner calculates the optimal route and determines the estimated arrival time of the vessel based on actual weather conditions.