Mythos AI, West Palm Beach, Fla., has completed the first installation of its advanced pilot assist system (APAS) on a Southern Devall towboat. According to a Mythos AI press release, this is the first use of the technology on the Mississippi River.
The Mississippi River and its connected waterways move more than 500 million tons of freight annually. Southern Devall officials said the technology is aimed at improving safety and reducing costly navigation incidents that affect fuel use, delivery schedules, and port access.
“This technology represents a step change in how we think about safety and operational control on the river,” said Sam Lewis, vice president of sustainability at Southern Devall. “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 operates 70 towboats across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Mississippi River system. The company plans to expand APAS to additional vessels following the initial deployment.
The press release said the pilot vessel could operate across Southern Devall’s 12,000-mile service area, gathering real-time environmental and operational data for Mythos AI’s navigation algorithms.
A Mythos AI statement said the APAS system provides real-time awareness and decision support for captains. It autonomously tracks and issues alarms for floating debris such as deadheads, displaced buoys and navigation aids, nearby vessels, and approaches to locks and dams. The statement also said the system includes a stopping distance alert feature that calculates dynamic stopping distances based on real-time speed, river conditions, and vessel characteristics, warning operators when control thresholds may be exceeded.
The statement also said APAS monitors fuel consumption and propulsion data, detects waste or anomalies, and recommends optimal performance zones using a vessel-specific power model.
