Shipping Technology launches ST Sailing Pro, adding automatic propulsion control to conventionally powered inland vessels

Shipping Technology has introduced ST Sailing Pro, an enhancement to its ST Sailing track pilot, which now manages both steering and propulsion for inland vessels. This represents a significant step towards fully autonomous sailing. The system allows a captain to input a destination and arrival time, after which it continuously calculates the optimal course and engine power considering factors such as locks, currents, and water levels.

Utilizing data gathered over six years, the system has demonstrated a 10% reduction in fuel consumption compared to ST Sailing, bringing the total fuel savings to 15%. Operating at level 2 of the CCR automation scale, ST Sailing Pro requires captain supervision at all times. The company has been collecting vessel data since 2018, with ST Brain PRO onboard units adding automatic rudder control five years ago.

With over 400 vessels currently running ST Sailing and a total of 315,000 sailing hours logged, the extensive data set has accelerated the development of this new feature. Six months of testing with a thruster-driven river cruise vessel and subsequent trials on conventional commercial vessels, including main engines, reverse-reduction gearboxes, propeller shafts, and rudders, have been conducted.

Remco Pikaart, Founding Partner of Shipping Technology, emphasizes that the system operates like a skilled captain, adjusting course and power based on real-time conditions while allowing the captain to override at any moment. Rijkswaterstaat validated the 5% fuel savings for ST Sailing in certified field testing, with the additional 10% savings largely determined early in the voyage.

Bosman Shipping Group, one of the companies participating in testing, reported that the system successfully accounted for tides and maintained the intended schedule with the desired fuel consumption.