NAPA and Stena Line have launched NAPA Stability for RoRo, a stability management and cargo planning platform designed for Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger (RoPax) vessels. The technology is currently undergoing trial deployment on the Gothenburg–Kiel route.
The system integrates cargo planning and stability management into a single workflow, which the companies claim can reduce officer planning time from up to 1.5 hours to approximately 10 minutes per departure.
Previously, much of the planning work was manual, with cargo manifests arriving by email and International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) data entered unit by unit.
The new platform connects directly to the booking system of the operator. Cargo data, including unit types, weights, and quantities, is imported automatically into the loading computer. A visual cargo planner allows officers to load units to decks using drag-and-drop functions, while stability calculations run in parallel to show real-time impacts on the vessel.
“On a RoPax vessel, getting the cargo in the right place is one of the most complex parts of every departure – stability, trim, fuel management, dangerous goods segregation, all under time pressure,” said Capt Jörgen Gustavsson, Captain at Stena Line.
“With NAPA Stability for RoRo, the manual work is essentially gone. What used to take our officers hours in data entry and planning now takes 10 to 15 minutes. That time goes straight back into the operation, where it matters most.”
The platform also automates the handling of dangerous goods. Units are imported with IMDG classification details, and the system automates segregation based on IMDG Code requirements. Artificial intelligence (AI) is used to propose optimal cargo placement based on historical loading conditions.
“We’ve been working alongside NAPA to build something that fits how RoRo operations actually work,” said David Svanström, Officer at Stena Line.
“The ability to import accurate booking data directly from our systems into the loading computer – with correct weights and cargo types – means we’re making stability decisions based on real data, not estimates.”
Loaded cargo plans are shared with NAPA Fleet Intelligence to give shoreside teams real-time visibility of vessel conditions. This connectivity allows emergency responders to see the exact location of dangerous goods onboard in the event of an incident.
“NAPA Stability for RoRo is designed around a simple principle: the cargo plan and the stability calculation should be one workflow, not two,” said Emmi Helanne, Product Owner at NAPA.
