Patent ID: 8155811

Claim:
A system comprising: a memory configured to store navigational data of a waterway and at least one operating parameter of one or more of a first marine vessel and a second marine vessel coupled together as a combination of marine vessels; and a processor configured to determine a path for the combination of marine vessels through the waterway from a first location to a second location, the processor also configured to determine a first propulsion command for a first propulsion system of the first marine vessel, a second propulsion command for a second propulsion system of the second marine vessel, a first direction command for a first directional system of the first marine vessel, and a second direction command for a second directional system of the second marine vessel; wherein the first propulsion command, the second propulsion command, the first direction command, and the second direction command are determined to at least one of reduce fuel consumed, reduce emissions generated, increase energy efficiency, reduce a transit time, or decrease an arrival time at one or more locations along the path by at least one of the first marine vessel or the second marine vessel as the combination of marine vessels travel along the path relative to traveling along the path according to one or more other propulsion commands or direction commands; and wherein the path, the first propulsion command, the second propulsion command, the first direction command, and the second direction command are based on the first location, the second location, the at least one operating parameter, and the navigational data.