Mythos AI has completed the inaugural installation of its Advanced Pilot Assist System (APAS) on a tow vessel operated by Southern Devall.
This event represents the first time such technology has been deployed on the Mississippi River, a major artery for American inland shipping that handles more than 500 million tonnes of freight each year.
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The introduction of APAS on this vital waterway could significantly enhance navigational safety and operational uptime, potentially leading to substantial economic benefits.
By minimising navigation incidents, the system aims to optimise fuel usage, maintain delivery schedules, and improve access to ports.
Mythos AI CEO Geoff Douglass said: “We’re not just tracking hazards — we’re building a smarter river.
“With APAS, Southern Devall is leading the charge in bringing next-generation navigation safety and efficiency to one of America’s most vital economic arteries.”
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By GlobalDataThe APAS system installed on the Southern Devall towboat prioritises features that bolster real-time situational awareness and decision-making for captains.
These include autonomous tracking and alerts for floating debris, displaced buoys, nearby vessels, and approaches to locks and dams.
A Stopping Distance Alert System is also integrated, which measures the dynamic stopping distances to aid operators in maintaining vessel control.
Additionally, APAS offers tools for monitoring fuel consumption and propulsion data, identifying inefficiencies, and suggesting optimal performance parameters tailored to the vessel’s power model.
Southern Devall vice president of sustainability Sam Lewis said: “This technology represents a step change in how we think about safety and operational control on the river.
“Our top priority is keeping our crews, vessels, and cargo safe in increasingly complex navigation environments. Mythos AI’s system gives us a new level of foresight — and we believe it will increase safety gains and fuel savings.”
Southern Devall manages a fleet of 70 towboats across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Mississippi River system.
The company is considering the expansion of APAS to additional vessels after evaluating the performance of this initial deployment.
The pilot vessel equipped with APAS will traverse Southern Devall’s extensive 12,000-mile (19,312km) network, further refining Mythos AI’s navigation algorithms with real-time environmental and behavioural data from the Mississippi River’s complex environment.
