Driving Maritime Innovation Through €3M+ in Active Projects

How Cetasol is expanding knowledge, building partnerships, and turning data into real operational impact

Cetasol is currently running a portfolio of innovation projects with a combined budget of over €3M, focused on improving energy efficiency, vessel performance, and data-driven decision-making across maritime operations.

These initiatives are a core part of how we continue to develop our technology and expand the capabilities of our platform.

At Cetasol, innovation is not a one-time initiative; it is an ongoing process that shapes how we build our solutions, collaborate with partners, and support the maritime industry.

We continuously explore new ways to improve how vessel data is collected, analysed, and used in real operations. The goal is to turn complex data into clear, actionable insights that create measurable value.

Across multiple ongoing projects, we are strengthening our capabilities within fuel optimisation, vessel performance monitoring, and decision-support systems. These initiatives allow us to test new approaches, validate results, and continuously improve how our platform supports real operational needs.

Collaboration driving maritime innovation and vessel performance 

Innovation does not happen in isolation. A core part of our work is built on collaboration with leading organisations across the maritime and technology sectors.

We work together with partners such as Vinnova, Future Mobility, and other leading organisations across the maritime and innovation ecosystem. These collaborations make it possible to move faster, reduce uncertainty, and ensure that what we build actually solves real operational challenges.

The support from funding organisations also plays a crucial role. It allows us to take on more ambitious projects, explore new ideas, and accelerate development in areas that are key for the future of maritime operations.

From innovation projects to product development

One of the most important aspects of our approach is that the work we do in these projects is directly connected to our core platform, iHelm.

iHelm brings together vessel monitoring, fuel analytics, and operational insights into one system. The knowledge we gain from our projects is continuously integrated into the platform, strengthening its ability to support better decision-making across fleets.

This means that our innovation work is not separate from our product, it is a direct extension of it.

For example, insights from ongoing projects are already improving how operators:

• Understand and optimise fuel consumption across different operating conditions

• Adjust speed and routing based on real vessel behaviour

• Identify inefficiencies before they become costly issues

• Make faster, more informed decisions using AI-driven insights

This connection between research, development, and real-world application is what allows us to create solutions that are both innovative and practical.

Exploring technologies shaping maritime monitoring and fuel optimisation

Across our projects, we are actively working with several advanced technologies that are shaping the future of maritime operations.

One important area is digital twin modelling, where we create virtual representations of vessel behaviour. These models make it possible to simulate different scenarios and understand how changes in speed, load, or routing impact fuel consumption and performance.

Another area is AI-driven decision support. By analysing large amounts of vessel data, we can generate recommendations that help operators make better decisions in real time.

We are also developing more accurate methods for fuel monitoring, reducing the need for physical sensors and instead relying on existing engine data combined with advanced modelling techniques.

Together, these technologies create a foundation for more efficient, data-driven operations.

Driving the transition to more sustainable maritime operations

The maritime industry is under increasing pressure to reduce emissions and improve efficiency. Our work is closely aligned with this transition.

By improving data accuracy and enabling better operational decisions, we help operators reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and meet regulatory requirements such as EU MRV, IMO DCS, and CII.

Rather than treating sustainability as a separate initiative, we see it as a natural outcome of better data and better decisions.

Recognising the role of our partners

None of this work would be possible without the support of our partners and funding organisations.

We would like to thank Vinnova, Future Mobility, and other collaborators for their trust and support. Their involvement allows us to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new opportunities within maritime technology.

What comes next

This post provides an overview of the projects and collaborations we are currently involved in.

In the coming blog posts, we will go deeper into each individual project, sharing more details about the challenges, the approach, and the results we are seeing.

Want to learn more?

Curious how these insights can be applied to your fleet?

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