Cetasol Review: Making Ships Smarter
December 22, 2025
Cetasol sits firmly in the “make the ships you already own smarter” camp. Their iHelm platform bolts onto existing vessels, pulls data from engines, navigation and weather, then feeds captains and shore teams real-time advice on speed and power use, with case studies showing double-digit fuel savings on ferries and workboats while keeping schedule and comfort intact.
Cetasol AB • Swedish headquarters
Åvägen 17F, 412 51 Gothenburg, Sweden
Shipowners save by:
- Turning data into fuel cuts: iHelm connects to engines, navigation and weather, then recommends speed and power settings in real time. Cetasol case studies report fuel reductions in the 10–20% range on ferries and coastal vessels once crews adopt the guidance in daily operations.
- Stabilising performance across captains and trips: The platform uses a digital twin of each vessel and route to shrink the spread between “best” and “average” operation, so high performers become the benchmark instead of the exception. That can be worth several percentage points of fuel on repeat services.
- Automating reporting and compliance work: iHelm captures and structures operational data so MRV, DCS and internal emissions reporting can be generated from the same dataset instead of manual logbook processing, saving staff time and reducing the risk of errors.
- Flagging maintenance issues earlier: Continuous engine and fuel monitoring means abnormal consumption or behaviour can trigger early warnings. That helps avoid running equipment in a damaged or sub-optimal state for months before the next yard stop.
- Scaling from one vessel to a full segment: Cetasol positions iHelm for small and mid-sized vessels like ferries, tugs, pilot boats and offshore craft, but the same platform scales across dozens of hulls, so lessons from one vessel can be rolled out across the fleet.
- Supporting hybrid and alternative driveline choices: Because iHelm is built to work with conventional diesel, electric and hybrid configurations, owners do not have to re-platform their optimisation layer every time they change propulsion technology.
- Anchoring decisions in an external reference: For more detail and current feature list, owners can go directly to Cetasol’s own materials. iHelm platform overview .
Notes: Savings figures are taken from Cetasol case material and third-party coverage and are indicative only.
Actual results depend on routes, weather, crew engagement and how aggressively you act on the recommendations.
Notable mentions and external references
A snapshot of where Cetasol’s iHelm platform is discussed in funding, product and optimisation stories.
-
Scaling an AI-driven fuel-saving platform Ship TechnologyCoverage of Cetasol’s plans to scale iHelm as an AI-driven optimisation layer for small and mid-sized vessels, including ferries and workboats, focusing on fuel savings and emissions reductions. Read the Ship Technology article .
-
Seed round to accelerate maritime optimisation ArcticStartupArcticStartup reports on Cetasol’s €2.3 million seed funding round, aimed at scaling its AI platform and expanding into more vessel segments beyond the initial Nordic ferry and workboat base. See the ArcticStartup funding story .
-
Expanding AI platform for fuel savings The Digital ShipThe Digital Ship highlights how Cetasol is expanding iHelm’s functionality, positioning it as an AI-powered platform to support captains in real-time decision making and help owners cut fuel use and emissions. Read the Digital Ship coverage .
-
Owner case stories and route optimisation CetasolCetasol’s own case material highlights operators using iHelm to optimise speed, power and routing in day-to-day operations, with reported fuel savings and CO₂ cuts on repeat services. Visit Cetasol for case stories .
This list is illustrative rather than exhaustive. It shows Cetasol appearing in funding announcements,
product expansion news and practical optimisation coverage.
iHelm fuel and ROI sketch
A simple way to frame what Cetasol-style optimisation might mean for your fuel bill and payback.
Your starting point
Use recent bunker spend for a typical vessel on the routes where you would deploy iHelm.
Plug in your own scenario. Many owners explore a range (e.g. 5–15%) in their internal cases.
Sister ships or route families where you would roll out the same playbook.
Include subscription, connectivity and an allowance for hardware and installation spread over time.
If you want, treat this as the capex lump sum (hardware, integration, training) you need to earn back.
Planning tool only. Swap in your own numbers from bunker reports, vendor quotes and internal cost models.
Indicative impact (fleet slice)
Annual fuel saved
$0
Net annual benefit after platform cost
$0
Simple payback on rollout cost
—
Annual ROI on rollout cost
—
| Category | Calculated value (fleet slice per year) |
|---|---|
| Baseline fuel spend (all vessels) | $0 |
| Fuel saving percentage applied | 0 % |
| Gross fuel cost saving | $0 |
| Total annual iHelm platform cost | $0 |
| Net annual benefit (saving – platform) | $0 |
| Total rollout cost (one-off) | $0 |
| Simple payback period | — |
| Annual ROI vs rollout cost | — |
Cetasol’s value proposition is straightforward: instead of waiting for a newbuild or a big retrofit to change the fuel curve, you use iHelm to make today’s vessels behave more like your best days on your best routes. The mentions panel points readers to where iHelm is being discussed, and the savings sketch lets an owner plug in their own bunker and cost numbers to see whether a multi-vessel rollout is worth a deeper look with the operations and bridge teams that would actually use it.
We welcome your feedback, suggestions, corrections, and ideas for enhancements. Please click here to get in touch.