Save fuel with Tresco TrackPilot: at least 2% (and much more in bends and upstream navigation)
Fuel is one of the biggest cost items in inland shipping. And not every kilometre costs the same: upstream you consume more than downstream, in bends more than on straight stretches. Every rudder movement slows the vessel down and costs diesel. The more frequent and larger the corrections, the higher the bill at the end of the trip.
On top of that: in the first hours of a voyage, an experienced skipper steers sharply and accurately. But on stretches of six, ten or fourteen hours, fatigue creeps in. Corrections become larger, less frequent, less precise. That’s not a lack of skill — it’s human. TrackPilot doesn’t have that problem. The system steers just as accurately after twelve hours as it does in the first fifteen minutes.
We tested it on the Rhine, with a 110-metre cargo vessel. The same stretches, the same conditions — once steered manually, once with Tresco TrackPilot.
How much fuel do you save with TrackPilot?
The test results: on short, straight stretches there was already a 2% saving. On longer stretches of six hours or more: over 4%. And in bends, where the difference between a tight line and a human correction is greatest, up to 25%.
How? TrackPilot makes about four corrections per second. Small, barely noticeable adjustments. A skipper makes larger rudder movements, less often. That makes sense — no one steers four times per second. But every large rudder deflection slows the vessel and costs fuel.
The difference is greatest in loaded upstream navigation: a heavy vessel, strong current, and exactly the situation where you become tired after hours of sailing and corrections get larger.
What does TrackPilot cost and when does it pay for itself?
The TrackPilot subscription costs €2,500 per year. At a diesel price of €900/m³ and a conservative saving of 2%:
80 m³/month (110m tanker): ± €1,280/month saved → payback in 2 months
60 m³/month ± €1,000/month saved → payback in 2.5 months
40 m³/month (smaller vessel): ± €650/month saved → payback in 4 months
Because TrackPilot saves a percentage, your advantage increases with the diesel price.
Want to know what it means for your vessel?
At roi.tresco.eu you can calculate your own fuel savings and payback period, based on your actual consumption and the current fuel price.
The savings are not in the SmartTrack – but in the precision
A common objection: “TrackPilot follows the average line. That’s no use to me.” That’s true if you only load SmartTracks and do nothing else. SmartTracks are the safest line based on navigation data from over 6,000 vessels. That’s a good starting point, but not necessarily the most fuel-efficient one.
That’s why TrackPilot lets you choose your sailing line differently: reuse a previously sailed track, load a route from Navigis, follow a vessel via AIS, or adjust your line in real time via the touchscreen. Closer to the groynes, on the inside of the bend. Your expertise, your choice.
The fuel savings don’t come from a computer that navigates better than you. They come from TrackPilot holding your chosen line more tightly than you can manually — especially after hours at the helm.
More than fuel savings alone
Fewer rudder movements also means less wear on rudder and steering gear. Less fatigue means more alert skippers. And the sailing comfort on long days is something users don’t want to go without — on average, between 70 and 85% of sailing time is spent on TrackPilot.
Calculate your savings at roi.tresco.eu or get in touch to discuss what TrackPilot can mean for your vessel or fleet.
