Fly-Box

Fly-Box SA is a Franco-Swiss startup developing a sustainable logistics solution to decarbonize and decongest short-sea freight transport. The company is engineering hydrogen-powered, hydrofoiling platforms designed to carry 40-foot shipping containers, weighing up to 30 tons, between major port hubs and smaller secondary ports. These vessels, described as "flying flatbeds," utilize hydrofoil technology to lift the hull above the water at a take-off speed of 12 knots, reaching a cruising speed of up to 25 knots. This significantly reduces drag and energy consumption, offering a faster and cleaner alternative to diesel trucks and conventional feeder ships for the last leg of cargo distribution.

The project is led by founder and CEO Alain Thébault, a pioneer in hydrofoil technology and the world sailing speed record holder with his flying boat, l'Hydroptère. His background includes the creation of SeaBubbles, an electric hydrofoil shuttle concept. The technical team includes CTO Laurent Perrier, who previously developed electric vehicles and battery systems at BlueSolutions, and COO Admiral Antoine de Roquefeuil of the French Navy. The company has filed six patents for its technology, which features a piloted lead vessel controlling a convoy of autonomous platforms connected by a digital tether, creating a "sea train." The platforms are constructed from aluminum with composite foils and are powered by electric motors, batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Fly-Box is currently testing an 8-meter electric prototype, the "Fly-Box Compact," on Lake Geneva. This proof-of-concept vessel is a crucial step for validating the design, flight dynamics, and remote operation systems, including integrated AI for process automation. In October 2023, the Geneva-based company secured one million euros to produce this prototype, with trials planned for Switzerland, Monaco, and potentially Paris. The business model aims to address key logistical challenges by optimizing delivery speed, reducing the carbon footprint of supply chains, and alleviating road congestion around ports.

Keywords: hydrofoil freight transport, hydrogen-powered shipping, short-sea logistics, container transport, last-mile logistics, decarbonization, maritime technology, autonomous vessels, green hydrogen, Alain Thébault, sustainable shipping, port decongestion, electric hydrofoil, logistics innovation, sea train, freight platooning, marine engineering, eco-friendly transport, supply chain solutions, advanced mobility