Stena Line reports that it has completed a pilot project using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the most fuel-efficient way to operate a vessel, demonstrating a 2-3% fuel consumption reduction per trip.
The technology is now being introduced to further vessels in the company’s fleet, as it works towards a target of lowering its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 2.5% on an annual basis.
The pilot project first began in 2018 on board the Stena Scandinavica, operating on the Gothenburg to Kiel route. The AI-enabled software demonstrated in the tests has now been named Stena Fuel Pilot and will be installed on five more Stena Line vessels during the autumn.
The ambition is to do a complete fleet wide roll-out on all 37 vessels in Europe during 2020, Stena Line said.
“Stena Line aims to become the world’s first cognitive ferry company, assisted by AI in all areas by 2021,” said Jari Virtanen, Chief Transformation Officer at Stena Line.
“This project is using AI technology to support our captains and officers to save fuel. By improving the efficiency, we reduce both our costs and our environmental footprint. It really embodies Stena Line’s vision of ‘Connecting Europe for a Sustainable future’.”
“This is a result of a successful collaboration between man, woman, and machine; between people and technology; between a team of skilled software developers, data scientists and finally a committed captain and his crew on Stena Scandinavica.”
