Combining weather forecasts with artificial intelligence algorithms is key for voyage optimisation
Weather and sea conditions, winds, currents, waves, temperature and ice have significant effects on ship navigation by altering a vessel’s route and influencing operational costs.
Intelligent applications can produce reliable weather routeing and more when they are fed with destination data, departure/arrival time windows, vessel specifications, cargo information, bunker prices and regulations, says Columbia Shipmanagement’s Performance and Optimisation Control Room (POCR) commercial manager Tasos Charalambous.
“When powered by artificial intelligence algorithms, they can produce auto-corrected navigation plans with unparalleled benefits – such as time, fuel and emissions savings, while reducing risks and operating costs,” he says. All this is available through POCR and Columbia’s customisable platform.
Columbia was one of the first to realise that optimising navigational, operational and commercial performance was the way forward for delivering added value to shipowners.
“Our POCR aspires to fully harness the various applications for customers to gain and maintain a competitive edge on their competitors,” says Mr Charalambous.
“We are always looking to drive proactive and reactive optimisation and efficiency and pushing cutting-edge technology forward for specialised monitoring and data analysis 24/7.” These applications are accessed on mobile devices through web portals to a cloud-based system.
“These provide an early-warning, alert-based system to optimise navigational operation and commercial performance,” says Mr Charalambous. “We take an incremental rather than a transformative approach with the aim of augmenting instead of substituting the human element,” he explains. “We aim to understand the type of task each technology can perform and, based on our business needs, develop the appropriate plans.”
POCR functionality can be immediately transferred to clients’ offices at zero cost, allowing shipowners to access the services remotely. “The set-up is fully customisable and the majority of features require no onboard equipment installation, although cameras, sensors and automatic data collection technology can be provided where necessary,” says Mr Charalambous.
Avoiding extreme weather
Through machine learning, patterns from large weather datasets are analysed for optimal route plotting. “Avoiding extreme weather might save days and hundreds of tonnes of fuel during a long passage,” says Mr Charalambous.
But it is not only about avoiding extreme weather. “In the long run, the most substantial efficiencies will come from optimisation in all weather conditions as small changes can add up to large savings,” he says.
The combination of waves, current and wind apply resistance on the vessel’s hull daily. “Superior weather and sea state data, combined with machine learning, result in optimised routes which are adjusted as the voyage progresses,” he continues.
Regular and high-quality data makes it possible to plan on-the-go route adjustments. Columbia deploys multiple providers of weather information on its platform as different voyages, clients and vessels require different data quality. Some providers have more advanced algorithms and multi-model numerical weather products while others have more basic versions.
Owner saves US$7K through weather routeing for single voyage
Columbia’s POCR saved an owner around 18 hours steaming time and US$7,350 in bunkers during a single voyage. This involved a bulk carrier sailing from Santos, Brazil, to Songxia, China.
POCR’s route analysts meticulously assessed the master’s intended route and recommended the most efficient route for the voyage. This analysis took into consideration real-time weather forecasts, incorporating client-specific instructions with regards to arrival times. This proposed route was broken down and optimised at various stages of the voyage. By following POCR advice, the owner saved approximately 25M tonnes of fuel, at a price of US$300/tonne.
Columbia Shipmanagement POCR weather routeing user case
|
intended route |
recommended route |
Distance |
7,200 nm |
7,000 nm |
Overall average speed |
11 knots |
11 knots |
Total time (hours) |
654 |
636 |
Total time (days) |
27,2 |
26.5 |
Daily fuel consumption |
35 mt/day |
35 mt/day |
Average fuel cost |
US$300/day |
US$300/day |
Total costs |
US$285,600 |
US$278,250 |
Total savings |
0 |
US$7,350 |
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.