Analysis of modern automated ship route planning systems: functional capabilities, limitations, and development trends
Abstract
The relevance of the study is determined by the maritime industry's transition from manual route planning to semi-automated and integrated navigation systems in the context of autonomous shipping. The requirements of IMO Resolution A.893(21), SOLAS 1974, and STCW 1978 make thorough voyage planning mandatory; however, existing systems differ in functionality and have limitations that complicate the selection of an optimal solution. The study provides a comparative analysis of leading ship route planning systems, identifying their capabilities, weaknesses, and development trends. The methodology includes analysis of the regulatory framework, technical documentation, and scientific publications, as well as comparative assessment according to the following criteria: preliminary route planning, under-keel clearance monitoring, weather routing optimization, carbon intensity accounting, and digital twin support. The results show that Wärtsilä and OneOcean are preferable for coastal navigation because of their advanced chart support, whereas StormGeo and ABB are better suited to transoceanic voyages owing to their more accurate hydrodynamic models. Common limitations include “black-box” algorithms, delays in weather-data updates, high subscription costs, cybersecurity issues, and incomplete integration with electronic chart display and information systems. Key development trends include artificial intelligence, digital twins, compliance with environmental regulations, low-Earth-orbit satellite communications, and autonomous shipping. The practical significance of the study lies in substantiating recommendations for selecting a system according to vessel type and navigation area. Further research should focus on hybrid systems combining physical vessel models with adaptive machine-learning and fuzzy-logic methods, as well as on standardized data-exchange protocols between shore-based optimization centers and shipboard ECDIS.