Tresco - Automation in Inland Shipping: 5 learnings

🚢 Automation in Inland Shipping – 5 Learnings from the Frontline

Tresco Engineering has been navigating the future of inland waterway transport (IWT) since 1998. With ~9,000 vessels already supported, they see automation not as a buzzword, but as a practical solution to today’s challenges: congestion, crew shortages, and sustainability.

From their journey, here are 5 key learnings:

1️⃣ TrackPilot as a gamechanger – Smart steering reduces fuel use by up to 15%, saving ~€1,000 per Antwerp–Duisburg trip.
2️⃣ Intention sharing = safer rivers – Ships digitally broadcasting routes is the step towards coordinated, AL3 navigation.
3️⃣ Automation must win hearts – Skippers using TrackPilot report: “I am considerably less tired. It’s safe and comfortable.”
4️⃣ Remote Operations Centers (ROC) – One captain on shore can oversee multiple ships, multiplying scarce expertise.
5️⃣ Data as ROI – From e-notifications to real-time lock data, automation cuts admin and reduces errors.

🔍 The challenge ahead? Automating locks with cm-precision. The opportunity? Expanding IWT’s share of EU freight beyond today’s 5%—helping achieve the EU’s +25% modal shift target by 2030.

👉 Inland ≠ sea-going. Automation here is a unique path—step by step, from AL0 to AL5.