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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced that the company, along with Tokyo Keiki Inc., conducted a performance demonstration test of its autopilot route control function, called Advanced Control for Ecology (ACE), onboard a vessel in service. The results are said to show fuel savings of around 1.5 percent.

The ACE estimates disturbance effects such as wind and tide by setting the vessel's course direction, and optimally controls the helm to minimize route deviation and reduce the number of course changes required during a voyage, achieving what MOL says are "significant reductions in fuel consumption compared to a similar vessel with a conventional control system".

MOL centrally collects big data gathered from vessels in service, with the goal of building a comprehensive vessel operation support network that will improve operating safety, reduce vessels' environmental impact, and boost overall efficiency.

During the demonstration test, MOL and Tokyo Keiki analyzed the data gained from Fleet Monitor - a vessel operation monitoring system developed by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. - installed on the vessel as a part of its big data initiative, and found that ACE produced fuel savings of about 1.5 percent.