Companies team up to improve tug despatching

For the world’s busiest ports coordinating the efficient provision of shiphandling tug services is a complex task. Towage providers can be involved in several operations over large port areas at the same time involving all types of ships and objects each with individual requirements.

As well as accommodating constantly changing schedules and real-time delays to the actual movements, tug despatchers must consider optimising their fleets based around: crew working hours; environmental conditions; tug types and pilot’s preferences; fuel consumption and of course actual vessel availability. Until now, manually calculating these factors in a live environment has been difficult and by using AI, PortX’s OptiPort is able to dynamically optimise harbour schedules every three minutes. It is claimed the new AI-assisted harbour tool could save operators more than US$1m per port.

The partnership will see PortX combining its AI-based port despatching system, OptiPort with Helm Connect, described as “the world’s leading harbour despatching and operations software”. The savings are achieved by reducing fuel consumption and crew overtime while also managing the operation to reduce the chartering of third-party tugs, factors that allow for a saving of US$200,000 per tug on a yearly basis.

Using Helm Connect Jobs, powered by OptiPort’s AI engine, users will receive automated suggestions on the best towing vessel, departure time and running speed based on the current schedule.

Vincent van Os, managing director of PortX said: “With the integration work that we have done with Helm, implementation of OptiPort can be done extremely quickly, without adding additional hardware on the vessels or the despatch control room. This leads to real cost savings that can improve operators’ bottom lines almost immediately upon implementation.”

For Helm Operations, CEO Ron deBruyne, said: “… We’ve seen the benefits of AI-driven technology first-hand and believe that this is a major step forward for the industry. Our team has helped implement advanced despatching systems for many of the world’s leading harbour docking companies, and we’re eager to enable our customers to successfully realise the cost savings that OptiPort can provide. From initial planning to long-term success, we’re ready to help our customers achieve more.”