Improving Shipping Fleet Operations

Applied Weather Technology (AWT) announced that the Odfjell Group, a leading company in the seaborne transportation and storage of chemicals and other specialty bulk liquids with about 90 ships in its fleet, recently selected AWT’s routing services and onboard voyage optimisation system to help Odfjell enhance safety and efficiency, as well as reduce fuel consumption, costs and carbon emissions.

According to AWT, during the first 90 days of implementing its optimum ship routing services onboard approximately 65 tankers, Odfjell has seen a benefit with a number of vessels steering clear of severe storms, potentially preventing significant ship damage and/or crew injury. AWT was able to show time savings of 30 sailing days and a reduction of approximately 1,000 metric tons (MT) of fuel oil in this 90-day period. This equates to fuel savings of $475,000 USD and a reduction in carbon emissions of 3,000 MT. As the period in question did not involve the entire fleet, savings are expected to increase in the future.

For the shipping industry overall, AWT routes more than 35,000 voyages per year and more ships per month than any other company. The company’s staff of weather routing experts recommend the safest, most time-efficient or fuel-efficient routes by analysing key variables including wind, sea and ocean currents as well as vessel type, age, stability, cargo and speed.