Case Study

Propulsion Control System Retrofit for Safer, More Reliable Vessel Operation

8 Jun 2026

5 min read

Project overview

Facing persistent reliability issues and growing maintenance complexity caused by an ageing propulsion control system, a vessel operator based in Slovenia turned to ComAp partner Motorpoint d.o.o. for a complete retrofit built around the InteliDrive DCU Marine controller. Motorpoint is a marine technology specialist with deep expertise in marine and energy projects, and has been a ComAp partner since 2010, becoming ComAp's official Service and Solution Partner for Central and Eastern Europe in 2025. The project delivered a modern, intuitive control solution that has operated without major failure since installation, giving the owner full confidence in the safety and dependability of their propulsion system.

Propulsion and engine control 1

Key objectives:

  • Significantly improve the reliability and safety of the vessel's propulsion system
  • Replace the legacy control system with a modern, intuitive solution that is easier to operate and maintain
  • Provide the vessel owner with detailed operational history and clear performance trending capabilities
  • Reduce the risk of critical failures and the high, unexpected costs associated with them
InteliVision Marine display solution

The challenge

The vessel was running on an outdated and unreliable control system that created persistent difficulties in day-to-day operation. Maintenance was unnecessarily complex and time-consuming, placing a constant burden on the crew and increasing the risk of unplanned downtime. Critical failures carried the potential for significant unplanned expenditure, making a comprehensive retrofit essential rather than optional.

Inteli DCU Marine engine controller 1

The solution

Motorpoint took a decisive approach, fully dismantling the legacy system and replacing it with a new architecture built around the ComAp InteliDrive DCU Marine controller as the master controller. The scope of supply included InteliVision 8 Marine displays for clear, accessible operator interfaces, alongside the InteliDrive RPU unit and IO8/8 modules working in combination with the InteliDrive DCU Marine. This integrated setup delivered a cohesive, modern control platform designed for straightforward operation and long-term maintainability.

Propulsion and engine control

The result

Following the retrofit, the vessel owner gained a fully modernised propulsion control system with the added benefits of detailed operation history logging and performance trending. After several years in service, the owner reports that no major propulsion system failures have occurred since installation, alongside high overall satisfaction with the new system's performance and usability. The project underscores the value of proactive modernisation in reducing the frequency of critical failures and the unpredictable costs they bring.

Motorpoint sees significant potential in marine refit projects of this kind and plans to actively promote these solutions at upcoming industry events in Genoa, Amsterdam and Hamburg.

Inteli DCU Marine engine controller
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