The NELSON project was launched on 1 September 2025. The project’s aim is to develop safe, efficient, and sustainable maritime traffic through innovative solutions. Fintraffic's Vessel Traffic Services is the project’s coordinator.
The project will develop the physical and digital infrastructure of fairways in two ways: by creating new innovative maritime services and providing support for the deployment of remote pilotage. The solutions will help improve information flow concerning vessel traffic between the authorities and port operators. This will increase safety and efficiency and facilitate the mitigation of environmental impacts.
“We received a positive funding decision in July. The project will modernise the TEN-T core network’s transport infrastructure and vessel traffic services, and the positive funding decision is proof that our goal to develop digital services for vessels as well as transport infrastructure technologies is also considered important at the EU level,” explains Olli Soininen, Head of Project Unit.
In practice, NELSON will comprise software development, research, and investments. The services to be developed will be tested in operational use: remote pilotage will be used as a pilot for the project, but the solutions will serve all merchant shipping vessels.
The first months of the project will be exceptionally busy. NELSON will be presented at Finnpilot’s Remote Pilotage 2025 event and at Port Days 2025, as well as at a meeting of the IALA DTEC Committee. The first stakeholder seminar will be organised in November.
In addition to Fintraffic, the participants include the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket), the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Aalto University, Finnpilot Pilotage Oy and several Finnish and Spanish companies and port authorities.
* The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) is an international organisation that prepares and publishes standards, recommendations, and guidelines for all maritime traffic safety equipment. The DTEC (Digital Technologies Committee) is a committee under the IALA.
