The maritime sector is undergoing a disruptive technological change driven by three main factors: autonomy, decarbonization, and digital transformation. Addressing these factors necessitates a reassessment of inland vessel operations. This paper presents the design and development of a decision support system for ferry operations based on a shrinking-horizon optimal control framework. The problem formulation incorporates a mathematical model of the ferry's dynamics and environmental disturbances, specifically water currents and wind, which can significantly influence the dynamics. Real-world data and illustrative scenarios demonstrate the potential of the proposed system to effectively support ferry crews by providing real-time guidance. This enables enhanced operational efficiency while maintaining predefined maneuver durations. The findings suggest that optimal control applications hold substantial promise for advancing future ferry operations on inland waters. A video of the real-world ferry MS Insel Mainau operating on Lake Constance is available at: https://youtu.be/i1MjCdbEQyE

翻译：海事领域正经历由三大主要因素驱动的颠覆性技术变革：自主化、脱碳化和数字化转型。应对这些因素需要对内河船舶运营进行重新评估。本文提出了一种基于收缩时域最优控制框架的渡轮运营决策支持系统的设计与开发。问题建模结合了渡轮动力学及环境扰动（特别是水流和风力）的数学模型，这些因素会显著影响船舶动力学特性。通过实际数据和典型场景验证，所提出的系统能够通过提供实时指导有效支持渡轮船员作业。该系统可在保持预定航行时长的基础上提升运营效率。研究结果表明，最优控制在推进未来内河渡轮运营发展方面具有巨大潜力。康斯坦茨湖实际运营渡轮MS Insel Mainau的演示视频可见：https://youtu.be/i1MjCdbEQyE