System and method for optimizing a path for a marine vessel through a waterway

A system comprising:

• a processor including a memory configured to store at least one operating parameter of a first marine vessel and navigational data of a waterway;
• a first propulsion system and a first directional system on the first marine vessel, the first propulsion system and the first directional system being coupled to the processor and configured to respectively impart a first selective propulsion force on the first marine vessel at a first selective direction based on a respectively received first propulsion command and first direction command from the processor;
• and
• at least one secondary marine vessel that is coupled to the marine vessel to form a combination of vessels;
• wherein the processor is configured to determine a path for the first marine vessel through the waterway from a first location to a second location, the first propulsion command and the first direction command to be transmitted to the first propulsion system and the first directional system at a respective incremental location along the path to improve a performance characteristic of the first marine vessel along the path;
• and
• wherein the processor is configured to determine the path, the first propulsion command, and the first direction command based on the first location, the second location, the at least one operating parameter, the performance characteristic, and the navigational data;
• wherein the at least one secondary vessel has a respective secondary propulsion system and a respective secondary directional system, the secondary propulsion system and the secondary directional system being coupled to the processor and configured to respectively impart a second selective propulsion force on the secondary marine vessel at a second selective direction based on a respectively received second propulsion command and second direction command from the processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to determine the path for the combination of vessels through the waterway from the first location to the second location, the respective secondary propulsion command, and the respective secondary directional command to be transmitted to the respective secondary propulsion system and the secondary directional system of the respective at least one secondary marine vessel at a respective incremental location along the optimal path to improve a respective performance characteristic of said at least one secondary marine vessel;
• wherein the memory is further configured to store at least one respective operating parameter of the at least one secondary marine vessel;
• and
• wherein the optimal path of the combination of vessels, the respective secondary propulsion command, and the respective secondary directional command is based on the first location, the second location, the respective at least one operating parameter of the at least one secondary vessel, the respective performance characteristic of the at least one secondary vessel, and the navigational data.

A method comprising:

• determining a path for a combination of marine vessels through a waterway from a first location to a second location, the combination of marine vessels including a first marine vessel and a second marine vessel coupled together, each of the first marine vessel and the second marine vessel including a propulsion system to propel the first marine vessel and the second marine vessel and a directional system to guide the first marine vessel and the second marine vessel;
• and
• determining propulsion commands and direction commands to be transmitted to the propulsion systems and the directional systems of the combination of marine vessels as the combination of marine vessels moves along the path;
• wherein the path, the propulsion commands, and the direction commands are determined to at least one of reduce fuel consumed by the combination of marine vessels, reduce emissions generated by the combination of marine vessels, increase energy efficiency of the combination of marine vessels, or reduce transit time of the combination of marine vessels to the second location relative to traveling along the path according to one or more other propulsion commands or other direction commands.