Ship Route Planning for Port Transit Based on an Improved A-star Algorithm
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: To address the significant limitation of existing route planning methods that inadequately account for port-specific navigation rules, this paper proposes a ship route planning approach for port transit based on an improved A* algorithm. First, a grid-based environmental model is constructed by integrating hydrographic and geographic features of the port and its adjacent waters, vessel traffic organization zones, and officially recommended navigation channels. Then, a navigation-rule-driven weighted cost model is developed, through which the A* algorithm is enhanced to prioritize compliant navigation behaviors. Furthermore, a segmented planning mechanism is designed for two representative navigation modes—intra-port navigation and inter-port navigation—ensuring that the resulting routes adhere to practical port operation rules. Experimental evaluations conducted in the waters of Shanghai Port and Ningbo–Zhoushan Port show that, compared with the traditional A* algorithm, the proposed method improves the alignment between planned routes and recommended channels by an average of 68.25%, and consistently satisfies port entry/exit conventions. The results verify that the improved algorithm significantly enhances both the regulatory compliance and the operational practicality of route planning in port waters.
Authors: Fujin Niu, Zhongjie He, Yinfei Zhou, Lihua Zhang
Institutions: Harbin Engineering University, Dalian Naval Academy
Language: English
Subfield: Ocean Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7202379712