A major global milestone for autonomous inland shipping was reached on Friday 24 October 2025. During a live showcase on board Scylla’s brand-new river cruise vessel MS Lumière, Shipping Technology, Retina, and Scylla completed the first-ever autonomous Dock2Dock voyage in the Netherlands.
The trial took place from undocking in Hardinxveld-Giessendam to docking in Gorinchem. The demonstration combined Retina’s M-Pilot manoeuvring system with the ST BRAIN and Autonomous Lane Assist (ST Sailing) from Shipping Technology. This enabled the vessel to undock, sail and dock autonomously under real-world conditions (even a gale-force crosswind of Beaufort 8 did not affect the ship’s course). Throughout the route, the captain remained in full control and supervision, always ensuring safety.
‘With the Dock2Dock project, we’re proving that autonomous technology is no longer futuristic – it’s happening now. Safely, efficiently, and sustainably,’ says David Woudenberg, Head of Product Development at Shipping Technology. ‘It’s not about removing the captain; it’s about giving crews smarter tools for safer and more efficient navigation. And about reducing fuel consumption.’
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A first-of-its-kind demonstration
The live showcase demonstrated seamless cooperation between advanced maritime systems:
- Autonomous undocking powered by Retina’s M-Pilot, in combination with Shipping Technology’s ST BRAIN.
- Autonomous Lane Assist (ST SAILING) for the main trip.
- Autonomous docking, with the captain overseeing each phase of the voyage.
During the showcase, the Retina M-Pilot controlled both the thrusters and the engines of the river cruise vessel, working seamlessly with Shipping Technology’s ST BRAIN and Autonomous Lane Assist (ALA). Together, these systems guided the vessel along the optimal route from A to B, automatically managing rudder and pod movements with remarkable precision.
Tom Panjer, Founder of Retina BV: ‘This is particularly relevant for vessels with Z-drives. The system measures what happens ten times per second, allowing controlled and safe operations. Experienced captains will have more time for other tasks; less experienced crew will feel better supported. Also, and let me be very clear about this: reliable data is essential, but people must stay in control.’
Just-in-time sailing
The pilot system continuously factors in variables such as vessel load, engine RPM, and desired turning acceleration to determine the most efficient steering response. By integrating directly with the propulsion system – a major step forward – the technology now also opens the door to future “just-in-time sailing”, reducing fuel consumption and supporting more sustainable operations.
‘The M-Pilot working together with the ST BRAIN performed exactly as intended, and that’s a true turning point for automation in inland shipping,’ adds Panjer. ‘The M-Pilot and ST BRAIN combination allows vessels to manoeuvre and sail autonomously while maintaining full control.’
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Real demonstration
The MS Lumière, operated by Scylla, entered service only two weeks before the event, making it the ideal platform to demonstrate how modern vessels can integrate advanced autonomy and data technology from day one. Following the voyage, guests, partners and media joined the crew on board for networking and discussions on the future of smart navigation.
‘In the market, there’s a lot of talk about autonomous sailing, but very little real demonstration, and most of that is about remote-controlled navigation,’ states Panjer. ‘That’s why this showcase matters. Normally, captains turn off their track pilot when approaching or leaving a berth – now, that process itself can be automated, with the captain staying fully in charge. It means more focus on navigation, less on manual controls, and a big step toward practical autonomy.’
One could say that Shipping Technology focuses on where you want to go and how you want to get there. Retina looks at how to control the vessel: making sure a ship arrives at its destination in a controlled and safe way.
Picture: The river cruiser MS Lumière autonomously sailed from Hardinxveld-Giessendam to Gorinchem but the captain was always in control (photo by Shipping Technology).
Also read: Shipping Technology and SEAFAR to boost semi-autonomous inland navigation
