Project leaders
The project is led by Mythos AI, a company specialized in maritime autonomy systems and situational awareness, in collaboration with Southern Devall, the leading U.S. inland waterway company transporting liquid chemicals and fertilizers.
Project description
APAS (Advanced Pilot Assist System) is an AI-powered system designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of river tow vessels. The system has been installed for the first time on a Southern Devall tow vessel operating along the Mississippi River network. APAS integrates real-time environmental data with machine learning algorithms to detect obstacles such as floating logs, displaced buoys, nearby vessels, and approaches to locks and dams. It also calculates braking distance based on speed, river conditions, and vessel characteristics.
The project has demonstrated strong potential to reduce navigation incidents, improve fuel efficiency, and anticipate risks in real time. The system is currently in a pilot phase with promising results, and is expected to be expanded across Southern Devall’s fleet, which operates over 12,000 miles of inland waterways, continuously feeding data to train Mythos AI algorithms.
This system represents a major step forward compared to traditional models, which neither integrate real-time environmental data nor provide predictive assistance. APAS stands out for its autonomous monitoring, anomaly detection, and adaptability to dynamic and complex river environments.
Project objectives
The main objective of this project is to increase safety and operational reliability in inland waterway navigation through an intelligent assistance system that supports captains’ decision-making in dynamic and unpredictable environments.
Additionally, the system helps reduce unnecessary fuel consumption, avoids operational disruptions, and adapts to environmental and commercial changes in the U.S. inland waterway network.
Publication date
September 23rd , 2025