The European Space Agency (ESA) has initiated a new flagship project, Decarbonization through the Digitalization in Shipping (DECARDIS), together with optimization platform company Awake.AI, ABB and shipping company Wallenius Marine. The consortium, funded by ESA and led by Awake.AI, will collaborate on a port call optimization solution, which focuses on helping ships cut greenhouse gas emissions by overcoming inefficiencies in the ship-port interaction.

Despite huge strides in smart ship technology and high levels of port automation, relationships between port and ship systems lack transparency, with data on voyage and berth management often confined to closed platforms. Ships told to proceed without delay frequently face a wait on arrival in port, thus using more fuel and generating additional emissions.

DECARDIS seeks to develop an integrated and interoperable solution to unify decisions on ship routing and speed with just-in-time arrival at the berth. It foresees the world’s first solution to optimize an entire voyage and port calls, rather than just a portion of it. Adopted at a global level, DECARDIS partners estimate that such a solution could help achieve significant emission reductions.

This is highly significant for an industry pressed by International Maritime Organization targets to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050 and an EU 2030 Climate Target Plan proposal to reduce emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

DECARDIS aims to integrate the voyage optimization solution of the ABB-Wallenius Marine collaboration called OVERSEA with port optimization solutions offered by Awake.AI as an interoperable solution. Users will access this interoperable voyage and port call optimization solution through a web-based interface that is compatible with existing onboard solutions.

Learn more here.