Skov explained that changes in air and sea temperatures are creating a more unstable environment at sea, with increased typhoons and hurricanes, and this is pushing shippers to seek out weather advice. “When the weather is good, we tend to ignore it; when it turns bad you want advice,” he said.
Skov added that weather routing is considered a low hanging fruit in terms of improving efficiency, and with fuel prices expected to leap by 40-50% in the wake in IMO 2020, more shipowners and charterers will be wanting to reduce fuel consumption next year.
“A small change in how you plan your voyage can have a huge impact. The most fuel is saved when the weather is with you. Safety is the number one priority, but within that limitation there is a lot you can do to take advantage of the good weather along the passage.”
Skov said his company was working with e-navigation leader Navtor to integrate weather modelling into the ECDIS system. “This is the future,” he said.
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