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if you’re thinking about a transoceanic strategy. While getting the best data,

Way? nder voyage that could be 30 to 40 days.” processing and delivering strategy is the

Way? nder is a dynamic voyage guid-

Every six hours, Sofar Ocean runs hard part, Janssen said “we solved that ance system, designed to deliver the through its optimizations based on the problem.” The next challenge is engag- most ef? cient and least weather-re- latest, comprehensive weather data in- ing will all partners to both implement, stricted speed and waypoint recom- mendations to a ? eet. Powered by Sofar tegration, helping to deliver the next execute and track the strategy to receive

Ocean’s global network of ocean sen- sors, helping to produce accurate marine weather forecasts and inform detailed

Vessel Performance Models (VPM). “We built this platform for maritime shipping that’s going to help reduce emissions. It’s going to be tying into new

CII regulations, and it’s going to help the industry accelerate its journey towards a more carbon-free future,” said Janssen.

Core to Way? nder’s capability is the real knowledge of what weather is hap- pening and is forecast to happen at cer- tain spots in the ocean.

While he admits that Sofar Ocean may be late to the game – considering the amount of time, money and effort shipowners have already poured into optimization; from hull design to weather routing, to propulsion technologies and appendages, to coatings – Janssen believes the holy grail of true optimization is still a ways off for many companies. “I think a lot of ship owners have already invested quite big into technologies to improve their vessels without really knowing what it’s going to do for the performance,” said Janssen.

He sees the vessel voyage optimization conundrum as stretching far above and beyond simply knowing the weather, as the factors that go into the decision-mak- ing process are complex and dynamic, including the weather, vessel speci? c performance criteria and market vari- ables too, such as the cost for arriving early or arriving late. By incorporating a vessel’s speci? c business and safety constraints, Way? nder continuously pro- vides operators and crew with the most optimized speed and routes possible.

“What we’re trying to do is change the paradigm altogether,” said Janssen. “Every six hours is an opportunity for change. Market variables are volatile, fuel prices go up and down daily, weath- er changes every three hours. To ‘set it and forget it’ would be a very bad idea www.marinetechnologynews.com 19

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