Knutsen LNG France, a subsidiary of Norwegian owner Knutsen, has completed a full-fleet deployment of the Syroco Live voyage decision-support platform on 16 LNG carriers, following a staged rollout that demonstrated benefits in day-to-day operations.
The collaboration between Knutsen LNG France and Syroco started two years ago with a small number of vessels. That initial phase was designed to test the software under real operating conditions, looking closely at how bridge teams and shore staff could use real-time voyage advice alongside varied charter party requirements.
From the outset, the project has been positioned as a practical shipmanagement initiative rather than a trial for its own sake. LNG carriers work under strict safety and performance limits, and charterers frequently define detailed criteria for speed, routing, weather exposure and reporting. Any digital tool has to work inside those constraints if it is to be accepted both on board and in the office.
The first installations were carried out in 2024 on four ships. According to Knutsen LNG France, that phase allowed crews and shore teams to see how continuous routing recommendations could support everyday decisions without forcing major changes to established routines.
Ludovic Gérard, President of Knutsen LNG France, said the early deployments gave the company the opportunity to judge the system in real operations, under different charter conditions, while also tracking how crews adopted it. He added that rolling Syroco Live out across the LNG fleet is helping the operator maintain safe and efficient service while meeting the expectations of a broad mix of charterers.
Knutsen’s LNG fleet carries cargoes for multiple energy companies, each with its own rules on performance and compliance. The software is used to give consistent visibility on how voyages are executed, while still respecting cargo handling limits and vessel operating envelopes.
From the technology vendor’s side, LNG shipping is seen as a demanding test case. Alex Caizergues, CEO of Syroco, said fleet deployments in this sector require tools that align with operational boundaries as well as the realities of charter contracts. He added that the Knutsen project illustrates how digital decision-support can help an operator deliver steady performance, safety and transparency across a fleet that serves numerous charterers.
For Knutsen LNG France, the wider deployment marks a measured approach to digitalisation, with shipmanagement needs and charter obligations placed at the centre of how new technology is selected and introduced.
