Patent ID: 8626366
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: B63B,B63H,G01C,G05D,G08G

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a processor configured to be disposed onboard a marine vessel, the processor also configured to obtain a trip plan that includes designated operational settings of the marine vessel for a trip along a waterway; a propulsion system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the propulsion system configured to generate propulsion to move the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan; and a directional system of the marine vessel that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the processor, the directional system configured to steer the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan, wherein the propulsion system propelling the marine vessel and the directional system steering the marine vessel according to the designated operational settings of the trip plan reduces at least one of fuel consumed or emissions generated by the marine vessel relative to the marine vessel being propelled or steered according to one or more plans other than the trip plan, wherein the processor is configured to monitor at least one of a direction of water current flow in the waterway, a speed of the water current flow, a direction of wind movement, or a speed of the wind movement along a portion of a designated path of the trip plan, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to generate the trip plan such that the marine vessel travels in a common direction as the at least one of the direction of water current flow or the direction of wind movement for at least a portion of a designated path of the trip plan when one or more of the speed of the water current flow or the speed of the wind movement exceeds a designated threshold.