CSL receives innovation funding to develop voyage planning technology

The CSL Group has received a grant of $932,402 from the Quebec government to develop a voyage planning tool for its fleet. The investment is part of Avantage Saint-Laurent, which is Quebec's maritime vision to establish an intelligent economic corridor with advanced information and communication technology systems to improve competitiveness and reduce environmental impacts.

Geneviève Guilbault, Quebec’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, announced the grant. "Investing in the ingenuity of our maritime sector companies, such as CSL Group Inc., is an investment in both climate change mitigation and our economy,” she said.

The new Intelligent Planning System (SPI) will enhance operational efficiency by optimizing cargo pickups and deliveries. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the SPI will reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions by up to 200 tonnes per ship annually.

"Thanks to this financial support, we will be able to develop and deploy the necessary digital tools to support decarbonization, improve efficiency, and enhance the performance of maritime operations on the St. Lawrence River,” added Louis Martel, CSL Group’s CEO.

CSL has committed to sharing the knowledge it gains from the system with the maritime industry.