Bulk shipping operator G2 Ocean has completed a pilot of a new AI system for vessel performance routing on five ships, developed in collaboration with Athens-based DeepSea Technologies as part of the Business Innovation Greece programme.
The project, backed by EEA and Norwegian grants, created an artificial intelligence (AI) application that uses AIS and noon report data, together with high-frequency data from other vessels, to assist in optimising voyages.
The approach, described as ‘transfer learning’, allows high-frequency data models from vessels already in DeepSea’s databases to be transferred over to low-frequency data vessels of the same type and further adapted to available data sources.
“G2 Ocean is committed to becoming a net-zero emissions company by 2050 and is enthusiastic about the potential benefits AI powered technologies can unlock in our industry,” said Arthur English, CEO of G2 Ocean.
“The solution developed by DeepSea enables real time analysis of a range of commercial, technical, and environmental factors resulting in a reduction of emissions as well as optimised earnings. With the wide-scale adoption of green fuels still some way off, it is vital that we grasp the opportunities that are currently economically viable to reduce emissions.”
The new Pythia Augment software has been applied to the bulker market for the duration of this project, however, the partners note that it could be applied to all types of vessels to provide route and speed guidance based on AI-generated energy performance modelling.
DeepSea and G2 Ocean applied the system to five Grieg Star vessels within the Norwegian company’s fleet during the development project, to pilot the AI model and demonstrate its ability to produce accurate and optimised guidance to reduce fuel consumption and achieve the highest possible Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) for any given voyage.
The project was also supported by research institute SINTEF, which assisted the partners in assessing how to deal with barriers to end-user compliance in following the AI recommendations provided by the system.
“Ship owners need to be taking action now to deliver on the maritime industry’s long-term goal to decarbonise,” said Dr Konstantinos Kyriakopoulos, Co-Founder and CEO of DeepSea Technologies.
“A mature market for the low-carbon fuels that will drive large-scale decarbonisation of marine energy remains some way away. In the meantime, owners and operators should focus on reducing energy consumption through operational efficiencies.”
“With the delivery of Pythia Augment using low-frequency data to optimise voyage planning, we are creating a new and innovative way for bulkers to effectively drive down carbon emissions in their operations.”
