MeteoGroup, the global weather authority, launched a new version of its weather routing solution SPOS (Ship Performance Optimization System). The new version, SPOS9, enables captains to safely navigate the globe with low fuel consumption and emissions, by calculating the best routes and anticipate weather and sea conditions.
SPOS9 aims to optimize shipping routes by considering various sea conditions, such as wind, waves and swell, currents and other weather elements. Weather updates and forecasts will give the ability to crews to be aware of their surroundings and the conditions that are ahead.
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SPOS9 includes the following features:
- Weather forecasts input Receive forecasts up to four times a day via e-mail or http download. Contains more than 20 elements for voyage optimization, using the MeteoGroup Nautical MeteoBase.
- Conditional parameters input Specify and update vessel and voyage data during transit. Use MeteoGroup Ship Profile Library, developed with MARIN, containing advanced algorithms for the resistance impact of wind and waves on specific vessel types.
- Route planning and adjustment Create route options based on time, cost or fuel constraints, either with or without a given ETA. Use MeteoGroup Route network to plan port-to-port routes, including navigational constraints and port approaches. Variable speed routing functionality ensures ships can avoid severe weather and optimize ECA passages.
- Ship-to-shore reporting Share travel updates with configurable reporting options. All parameters, the sailed and planned route, communications and performance indicators are available for onshore stakeholders via the MeteoGroup FleetGuard web platform. Integration with FleetGuard and RouteGuard ensures a shared view across fleets.
Moreover, with SPOS9 users will also have access to the following:
- Nautical MeteoBase: Combines the weather information from global forecasting models (ECMWF, UK Meteorological Office & NCEP) and produces a single higher quality forecast.
- Ship profile library: Contains advanced algorithms for the resistance impact of wind and waves on specific vessel types. It increases route planning accuracy and removes complexity for captain and crew compared to traditional separated speed down tables.
- Route Network: Provides routing options build on the routes MeteoGroup created over the years. It includes all possible passages to and from ports, through canals, through TSSs and ECAs, and more.
- Variable speed routing: Calculates the optimum route using variable-speed routing algorithm, taking into account elements like bad weather, traverse ECA zones, RPM/speed ranges or fixed ETA.
- Proven track record of highest performance: Route-planning and optimization involves juggling safety, efficiency, navigation, cost, port rotation, ETA’s, speed ranges and additional constraints, such as trim and seakeeping. For ship captains this is a complex challenge that requires a decision supporting tool. SPOS9 (Ship Performance Optimization System) wants to address these challenges.
- Existing users: Existing users of SPOS will get a free upgrade to SPOS9 as it will save them more fuel and time than ever before and enables them to easily integrate SPOS data and functionality into their other systems, including back of bridge voyage planning systems.
