Interpreting Meteorological and Oceanographic Data to Provide Optimal and Safe Ship Routing

For the past 50+ years, Fleetweather has provided ship routing and marine forecasting services to ship owners, charterers, and vessel crews across the globe. Over time as meteorological and oceanographic data has become more abundant and accessible, Fleetweather has evolved and improved their methods and products to enhance the value of the services delivered to clients.

Our group of approximately thirty Marine Routers utilise and interpret a variety of data from numerous sources and agencies, including marine observations, meteorological and oceanographic forecast model output, satellite and radar data, tropical warnings, and marine ice data. This data, in combination with expertise in ship performance characteristics, marine navigation, maritime threats such as piracy, and environmental regulations, allows our routers to provide optimal route recommendations to vessels in every ocean basin. The safety of crew and cargo is always the number one priority, but many other considerations factor into recommendations, such as minimising fuel consumption, voyage distance, or voyage time.

Additionally, historical data is analysed to both examine the past performance and predict future performance for vessels and fleets. As more data becomes accessible, more precise analysis and prediction results, to the benefit of all parties involved.

Given the plethora of data available to the public, proper and clear communication of what the data actually means is vital to the end user, and conveying this information as accurately and concisely as possible is key to maximising the value to the client. Expertise in meteorology and oceanography is a requirement, but equally important is having a strong understanding of the concerns and priorities of those in the maritime industry, and the ability to communicate the same is a crucial part of the services Fleetweather provides. 

Fleetweather is positioned to take the available high-value datasets, applying our knowledge and expertise, and then delivering a high value product at the end of the value-chain.  This end product/deliverable is of high value to our clients in the maritime industry, and also provides societal benefits to the population at large, through reduction of fuel consumption and increased vessel efficiency, leading to a contribution to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.