- Stena Line, one of Europe’s leading ferry companies, can now report a significant reduction in their fuel consumption thanks to their strategic use of AI.
- Through its advanced Voyage Optimisation System, optimisation of vessel functions can now be done much more efficiently, while resulting in between 1-5% reduction in fuel consumption.
Ferry company Stena Line reports that it has managed to achieve between 1-5% reduction in fuel consumption in operations on its ships through the strategic application of artificial intelligence (AI), reports Port News.
Voyage Optimisation System to test fuel reduction
The company’s AI platform, called Voyage Optimisation System, has been tested on crossings between Gothenburg and the Danish port of Frederikshavn, among others, and is used to optimise vessel operations by analysing a number of factors that affect the voyage.
This includes parameters such as wind, waves and depth during the journey, which are analysed to calculate the correct power output to maximise energy efficiency. This data is collected in real time and processed through AI-powered algorithms.
“It is clear that the use of AI both optimises our operations and supports our vision of a more sustainable future,” said Michael Ljunge, Digital Engineering Manager at Stena Line. “It is positive to see how the technology has not only enabled significant progress in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and streamline work, but also gives our crew more time to manage day-to-day operations.”
“One of the biggest challenges in implementing AI has been ensuring that everyone on board understands how the system works. We originally named the system ‘AI Captain’, but changed this shortly afterwards to avoid misconceptions that AI would replace human decision-making. Instead, the technology is now presented as an intelligent assistant that supports the captain’s and crew’s decisions, which has helped to integrate the AI system in a more natural way and as a tool that complements human expertise and experience.”
The developers of the AI system will continue to work with the ships’ crews, both navigators and captains, to get continuous feedback and make adjustments, a process that Stena says has proven crucial in improving the AI and its practical application during operations.
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Source: Port News
