Revolutionising Maritime Piloting for Enhanced Port Efficiency

Guiding a vessel into port has traditionally been a task entrusted to the most seasoned maritime pilots, whose expertise ensures vessels safely enter congested or dangerous waters. Historically, these pilots depended heavily on their in-depth understanding of the local waterways. While skill and intuition remain invaluable, technological advancements are reshaping piloting operations.

Today, pilots leverage advanced navigational tools to augment their expertise, refining the precision with which they perform their duties. These tools not only enhance operational efficiency but also reduce the environmental impact by limiting the need for extensive dredging operations—removing sediments from the bottom of waterways to ensure vessels have enough depth to pass. With advanced navigational systems, the need for constant dredging is significantly decreased —saving both time and money, while minimizing environmental disruption.

Since 2016, Trelleborg has been at the forefront of this technological evolution, understanding the changing landscape, working closely with pilots across the globe and helping them refine their experience as well as pioneering newer technologies in marine navigation and piloting systems. Our SafePilot solutions, developed by our team in Denmark, is an example of one such solution. It integrates seamlessly with a vessel’s navigation system, providing pilots with precise, real-time information about the vessel’s location, the topography of the seafloor, and potential hazards. The capability of this system has proven invaluable, particularly in high-traffic areas where safety, precision, and efficiency are paramount.

In April 2022, we launched SafePilot CAT PRO, an advanced, pocket-sized marine positioning tool weighing just 420 grams and comparable in size to two decks of playing cards that has transformed how pilots work. Maritime pilots can now carry not one, but two units onboard—one to determine the ship’s position and the other to calculate its heading.

What Sets CAT PRO apart?

The CAT PRO’s ability to provide vessel-independent GPS data makes it a step above other systems. By drawing from all global satellite systems, it delivers navigation accuracy down to one centimetre, it delivers navigation accuracy down to one centimetre. How critical that level of precision is for maritime pilots can’t be understated. Seamless communication with tug operators ensures vessels follow the safest, most efficient routes, reducing both piloting and port turnaround times.

Battery performance is another area where CAT PRO excels. With a 30-hour battery life—double that of previous models—pilots can remain focused on their tasks without worrying about recharging mid-operation. The interchangeable units mean that pilots can charge one while using the other, a simple but practical feature that enhances convenience and reliability during long operations.

While security is a paramount concern in any industry that relies on GPS systemsGPS spoofing—tricking a device into believing it's in a different location—is an ongoing risk.. CAT PRO addresses this by incorporating advanced detection capabilities that alert users to potential spoofing attempts, providing an additional layer of protection. Moreover, CAT PRO's complete independence from shipboard systems ensures uninterrupted operation even during power outages onboard or technical failures, enabling pilots to maintain control and navigate safely to port.

Pilots have reported up to a 25% increase in efficiency with previous Trelleborg systems, with CAT PRO pushing this further. This technology allows pilots to visualize the position of the vessel in real-time, down to the smallest detail, bringing extraordinary precision to every aspect of the piloting process.

The SafePilot range extends beyond conventional maritime piloting, offering specialized solutions for the offshore industry, tug operators, crane operators, and ferry and cruise liner captains, thereby enhancing safety across a diverse spectrum of marine environments. The versatility of this technology is vast, and with the ever-changing needs, the potential for innovation is even greater.

Maritime pilots and the broader shipping industry stand at the threshold of a more efficient future as the integration of more sophisticated systems solutions like SafePilot CAT PRO continues to evolve, allowing for predictive analytics that will be crucial in ensuring safer, quicker, and more environmentally sustainable navigational operations even in the most complex waterways.