The SPRINT project will focus on the real-time exploitation of space data used in the development of voyage optimisation solutions for commercial vessels.

The project combines the very latest in high fidelity Met-Ocean forecast data with leading edge genetic algorithms to create a route optimisation module that will produce the most efficient routes for vessels and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The University of Southampton will provide Theyr with expertise in best-in-class genetic algorithms and optimisation to exploit increasingly higher fidelity satellite data. Theyr will also use the University of Southampton’s IRIDIS5 supercomputer, the UK’s largest academic supercomputer to speed up the verification process.

The latest International Marine Organization (IMO) regulations compel the shipping industry to significantly reduce its GHG emissions from the start of 2020, which in turn, has led to a major increase in the cost of compliant fuels. These latest regulatory requirements continue to fuel the digital revolution within the industry, facilitating the transition to a greener future.

David Young, CEO of Theyr said: “We’re delighted that this SPRINT project has been given the green light. Combining our expertise with the substantial knowledge and resources of the University of Southampton will facilitate the future sustainability of commercial shipping by effectively reducing fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions within the industry through the use of AI and high-fidelity MetOcean data.”

Dr Adam Sobey, associate professor in the Maritime Engineering Group at the University of Southampton and co-lead of the marine and maritime group in the data-centric engineering programme at The Alan Turing Institute, added: “This project exploits the very latest in AI through a genetic algorithm developed by my team at the University of Southampton and which shows leading performance on a range of optimisation problems.

“We are developing a set of algorithms which will increase the fidelity of data that we can use and the range over which we will optimise. This will future proof the software against these increases in fidelity and provide leading performance over competitor software.”

The project will be funded by a grant from the £4.8 million SPRINT (SPace Research and Innovation Network for Technology) programme that provides unprecedented access to university space expertise and facilities. SPRINT helps businesses through the commercial exploitation of space data and technologies.