Mythos AI’s APAS Transforms Mississippi River Navigation
Mythos AI has successfully installed its Advanced Pilot Assist System (APAS) on a tow vessel operated by Southern Devall, marking the first deployment of this technology on the Mississippi River, a critical U.S. waterway handling over 500 million tons of freight annually.
The APAS system enhances navigational safety and operational efficiency by reducing navigation incidents, optimizing fuel consumption, maintaining delivery schedules, and improving port access. Mythos AI CEO Geoff Douglass stated that the system is creating a “smarter river,” revolutionizing safety and efficiency on this vital economic artery.
APAS equips vessel captains with real-time situational awareness through features like autonomous tracking of floating debris, displaced buoys, nearby vessels, and lock and dam approaches. It also includes a Stopping Distance Alert System to aid in vessel control and tools to monitor fuel usage and propulsion data, offering performance optimization tailored to the vessel’s power model.
Sam Lewis, Southern Devall’s Vice President of Sustainability, highlighted that APAS transforms safety and operational control in complex navigation environments, prioritizing crew, vessel, and cargo safety. Southern Devall, which operates a fleet of 70 towboats across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Mississippi River, plans to evaluate the pilot project’s performance before expanding APAS to additional vessels. The pilot vessel will navigate Southern Devall’s 12 000-mile (19 312 km) network, collecting real-time data to refine Mythos AI’s navigation algorithms.
