From navigational Bridge to Your Desktop

My name is Viktor Kolbasov. As a former voyage planning officer, I have spent countless hours on the bridge experiencing these challenges firsthand. I witnessed how the rich, valuable data within Electronic Navigational Charts was not being used to its full potential.

This realization, born from years of practical experience, became the key motivation for my Master's thesis and the creation of the Route Assistant prototype. My mission is to bridge the gap between raw ENC data and the modern tools that can unlock its power for navigators, captains, data scientists, and researchers.

Automated Routing, AI-Ready Graphs, Open Integration

Route Assistant is more than just software; it's an open platform designed to automate voyage planning and unlock nautical data. It transforms complex, raw ENC (S-57) data into a structured, feature-rich, and navigable graph.

Key Features:

• Automated Route Generation: Quickly compute the safest and most efficient paths using proven algorithms like A* and Dijkstra.
• Intelligent Graph Foundation: The system processes ENC layers to create a clean, navigable space, automatically filtering out land areas, obstructions, and other hazards.
• ML-Ready Architecture: It provides a feature-rich dataset designed specifically for Machine Learning workflows, allowing researchers to apply AI without first needing to master the complex S-57 format.
• Open-Source Integration: The entire pipeline is built with powerful open-source tools like GDAL, PostGIS, Python, and QGIS, ensuring accessibility and extensibility.

Built on a Foundation of Academic Research

Classic Algorithms, ML Tradeoffs

This project is not just an idea; it's the practical evolution of a Master's thesis in Autonomous Maritime Operations from Novia University of Applied Sciences.

The research successfully developed and implemented the 'Route Assistant' prototype, proving its capabilities.

Key Findings from the Research:

• A full pipeline for ENC data extraction, processing, graph construction, and route calculation was successfully developed using open-source tools.
• Traditional pathfinding algorithms like A* and Dijkstra remain highly effective and computationally efficient for structured graphs derived from ENC data.
• While Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) offer great potential, they face challenges in data representation and training complexity that currently make them less viable for standalone, onboard deployment.
• The research concludes that the prototype serves as a valuable tool for supporting navigation officers and provides a solid foundation for future development in Al-assisted voyage planning

Our Voyage Plan for 2025–2026

We have a clear, structured plan to bring the full Route Assistant suite to life. The core prototype, which represents about two-thirds of the foundational work, was completed in under a year. This campaign will fund 1.5 years of dedicated, full-time development to refine the system and deliver all rewards.

Building the Future of Navigation, Together

Vector Nautical has transitioned from a traditional crowdfunding model to a community-led, open-source initiative. We believe that the tools used by mariners should be built transparently and remain accessible to the industry.

Join the Mission

The development of Vector Nautical open-source tools is now powered by our community. We have moved our fundraising to Open Collective to ensure full financial transparency as we build the next generation of maritime tools.

Your contributions directly fund the development of the Nautical-Graph-Toolkit (the fundamental layer of Route Assistant) and our mission to make the seas safer and more efficient for every mariner. By supporting us, you aren't just a donor—you are a stakeholder in a more open maritime future.

All financial records, expenses, and contributions are public on our Collective page.

Beyond the Horizon

What’s Next?

Transitioning Vector Nautical to community-led funding impacts the duration and frequency of our releases, but our vision for a truly open and innovative maritime ecosystem remains unchanged.

Our long-term vision focuses on tackling some of the industry's biggest challenges through a phased, transparent approach. Nautical-Graph-Toolkit is already live and represents the first in a line of projects designed to put power back into the hands of the mariner.

• 🔓 Unlock Data: Most maritime ENC data is transported in the S-63 standard (Encrypted S-57 data). Our goal is to find a way to allow users to utilize their already purchased S-63 data or work with IHO offices to find an affordable way for private use of S-57 datasets, similar to what NOAA already provides for the US dataset.
• 🤖 Introduce a True AI Partner: Transform the Nautical-Graph-Toolkit into a true Route Assistant—an intelligent "AI Co-Pilot"
  that allows mariners to "chat" with their charts and publications using natural language.
• 📋 Global CV Directory: While many projects attempt to connect seafarers and recruiters, we have yet to see a true, single maritime CV directory. We aim to create a platform that avoids the need to maintain data on multiple sources, making your professional profile
  visible on a global scale through a unified standard.