SPOS onboard weather and route optimisation system has been recently ordered from Meteo Consult by A.P. Moller for 40 of it's owned and 27 chartered vessels. The SPOS system is a simple and low costs solution for providing the master with a complete and accurate weather forecast via his own e-mail system. The weather and wave maps generated by the system allow the master to get a clear sight on weather hazards and operational limitations. Economic benefits may be gained when using the route optimisation facility.

SPOS makes use of the standard facilities available nowadays on many vessels. This includes a normal PC and Inmarsat A, B or M communication facilities. Each day Meteo Consult prepares a global marine weather forecast up to 5 days ahead. The weather data are based on the Bracknell wind and wave model of the UK Met. Office, one of the most accurate models currently available. Meteorological data files are transmitted to ships via the regular (electronic mail) system of the ship's operator. This results in a communication time of only one (1) minute via Inmarsat A. On board, weather charts can be displayed on the computer screen and printed. The movement of weather systems is shown via animations. The weather information consists of surface pressure, wind speed & direction, wind waves and swell. Hurricane warnings and a global climatological database are also available.

Daily updates of the planned voyage are made with new weather forecasts. Possible inaccuracies of the forecasts are therefore minimised when the voyage progresses. A log of the actual voyage is generated by SPOS automatically and can be displayed or printed.