Voyage Optimization News

Weathernews, a Japan-headquartered weather intelligence firm, and Belgium’s Toqua, a developer of physics-informed AI for ship performance modeling, have entered a strategic partnership to integrate vessel-specific performance models into Weathernews’ voyage optimization systems.The collaboration aims to improve fuel efficiency and operational predictability by combining Toqua’s AI-trained vessel performance models with Weathernews’ weather routing and optimization algorithms…

Sofar Ocean has launched Wayfinder Voyage Simulator, a voyage planning tool that lets operators, commercial teams and chartering desks generate and compare unlimited voyage scenarios in seconds, aiming to improve fleet efficiency and profitability.Part of Sofar’s Wayfinder platform, the simulator incorporates the company’s marine weather forecasts, informed by what Sofar says is the largest private real-time ocean sensor network and ‘outperform traditional models by up to 50%’…

Union Maritime’s new wind-assist tanker Brands Hatch has completed its maiden voyage, achieving more than a third of its propulsion power from wind when conditions were favorable.The vessel is the first newbuild tanker installed with BAR Technologies’ WindWings®.Brands Hatch achieved significant fuel savings while maintaining strong sailing speeds in challenging weather.Union Maritime also employed sail-aware weather routing from Ascenz Marorka on the voyage. Whilst on global routes each WindWing can save an average of 1.5 tonnes of fuel per wing per day.

ABB and shipping company Wallenius Marine have formally established a new joint venture based in Stockholm, Sweden, to expand their OVERSEA™ collaboration.Launched in September 2022 as a collaboration between ABB and Wallenius Marine, OVERSEA™ is a combined digital solution and ‘fleet-support-center-as-a-service’ offering designed to help ship owners, operators, and managers enhance the efficiency and sustainability of maritime operations.OVERSEA™ leverages ABB’s significant expertise…

Maritime software company OrbitMI has acquired Gale Force, a provider of maritime advisory services. Gale Force specializes in voyage optimization, environmental compliance, and voyage execution support.This acquisition represents a strategic step forward in OrbitMI’s mission to deliver a comprehensive, intelligent maritime platform that meets the evolving expectations of clients. By integrating Gale Force’s expertise directly into the Orbit platform, clients gain faster access to actionable insights through intelligent…

Geogas will deploy Syroco’s weather routing and voyage optimization platform across its fleet of over 50 vessels.The move comes after a year-long partnership between Geogas and Syroco, which saw the operator deploy the company’s core product, Syroco Live, on its two largest vessels, Jean Raspail and Freycinet. As a result of the deployment, both LPG carriers, 230 meters long and each capable of carrying 90,000 cubic meters of gas, were able to follow optimized routes even when…

Lloyd's Register OneOcean (LR OneOcean) has collaborated with TotalEnergies to deploy advanced route optimization technology across its shipping operations.TotalEnergies has adopted LR OneOcean's Route Optimization solution, which combines master mariner oversight with machine learning fuel modeling and hull analysis capabilities.The Route Optimization solution harnesses the power of both the Lloyd’s Register OneOcean Platform and its Vessel Operations team to grant visibility into the performance of each vessel.

TBS Safety has partnered with NeboFleet, a leader in high-frequency GPS tracking solutions for workboats and barges, to provide fleet operators with highly accurate voyage tracking designed to increase operational efficiency.“Location tracking is critical, but maritime businesses need more — they need data that drives decisions and information that increases efficiency across the fleet,” said NeboFleet’s Stephen Winter. “Our partnership with TBS Safety ensures that fleet managers have access to real-time tracking…

Ascenz Marorka, GTT’s smart shipping arm, has expanded its real-time fleet performance monitoring service to cover the Americas.Following deployments in France and Singapore, the extension to Vancouver strengthens Ascenz Marorka’s global reach.With operations now spanning three key locations, Ascenz Marorka ensures round-the-clock support, helping ship-owners, charterers, and ship managers maintain seamless and efficient operations across multiple time zones.Ascenz Marorka’s real…

Italian shipping company GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) has selected RINA’s SERTICA Performance for the latest addition to its fleet, the GNV Polaris, starting right away by testing the ship during its inaugural voyage from China to Italy.The tool for monitoring operational data on ships allows efficient energy consumption management and the optimization of performance.Thanks to the system, GNV has identified two optimal operating scenarios allowing for the lowest Specific Fuel Consumption…

Norwegian ship operator within the open hatch segment G2 Ocean has selected StormGeo’s voyage optimization solution for its fleet of 120 vessels.The new agreement builds on the success of a long-term collaboration between the two maritime companies, further solidifying G2 Ocean’s confidence in StormGeo’s ability to support their goals of operational efficiency and decarbonization.G2 Ocean has selected StormGeo’s Voyage Optimization solution, which empowers both shoreside and onboard teams to plan and execute optimized…

Odfjell has initiated a deployment of Syroco’s weather routing platform on two of its vessels, the Bow Olympus and Bow Optima.The two vessels are part of Odfjell’s Hudong-class chemical tankers, flying the Norwegian flag. Both built in 2019, the 183 meter vessels are each equipped with 33 stainless steel tanks and operate primarily on trans-Pacific routes.In early 2025, the Bow Olympus will be fitted with four eSAILs, bound4blue’s suction sails. As an add-on to optimise the sails' effects…

Since April 2024, CORSICA linea has deployed the voyage optimization solution from French start-up Spinergie, a maritime technology company specializing in monitoring ship performance using big data and artificial intelligence (AI).CORSICA linea plans to achieve a 40% reduction in its CO2 emissions by 2030.The Voyage Optimizer is a decision-support tool that helps choose the most fuel-efficient and CO2-reducing voyage plan. By analyzing onboard sensor data and meteorological information…

Maritime insurance specialist The Swedish Club reports that it registered claims exceeding $25million attributable to heavy weather over the past five years. In response, it has developed a Heavy Weather Alert tool as an addition to its existing loss prevention tool.Heavy weather can cause structural damage, shifted cargo, broken mooring lines, wet damage, lost cargo overboard, and more. The Club says it has also seen examples where vessels have failed to suspend cargo operations and depart port in a timely manner when severe weather is approaching…

Danelec has released a new simulation tool it says will bridge the gap between LNG carrier commercial and operations teams.LNG carrier operations are subject to several unique challenges, including balancing diverse factors to meet charter party requirements, meeting cargo temperature and pressure requirements at discharge, and optimizing voyage planning amidst variable weather conditions and route complexities to minimize consumption and maximize delivery.By simulating expected vessel performance and providing optimized operational setpoints…

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its preliminary assessment of the grounding of the bulk carrier Indian Partnership on April 23, 2023, and implicated voyage optimization planning.The UK-registered bulk carrier ran aground at 0409 off the coast of Misool Island while transiting the Indonesian archipelago. The grounding caused significant breaches to the hull, leading to water ingress into the duct keel and five ballast water tanks.Indian Partnership had set sail from Skardon River…

KR has signed an MoU with HD Hyundai to collaborate on the pilot project of a cloud-based next-generation smart ship solution (ISS 2.0) developed by HD Hyundai. The MoU was signed at Posidonia 2024.The project, jointly undertaken by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Marine Solution (HD HMS), Sinokor Merchant Marine, and KR, aims to equip and demonstrate smart ship solutions on vessels. KR plans to conduct technical reviews based on classification rules as well as domestic and international regulations…

Stena Line has reported a significant reduction in fuel consumption thanks to its strategic use of AI.Through its Voyage Optimization System, optimization of vessel functions can now be done much more efficiently, and this has resulted in a 1-5% reduction in fuel consumption.The system has been tested on crossings between Gothenburg and the Danish port of Frederikshavn, among others. The use of AI helps to optimize vessel operations by accurately analyzing a number of factors that affect the vessel's voyage…

Smart Ship Hub (SSH), a maritime digital platform for ship owners, operators, charterers and insurers, has received significant strategic investment from one of Japan’s largest maritime equipment manufacturers: Nakakita Seisakusho.Headquartered in Singapore, SSH supports vessels from across 50+ ports through its Singapore, India and Japan offices.Welcoming the investment from Nakikita, Joy Basu, CEO of Smart Ship Hub, said: “Japan is an important market for us, and we have learnt a lot from Japanese processes and quality frameworks over a long period of time.

The first voyages of the Blue Visby Prototype Trials took place in March/April 2024 with the bulk carriers Gerdt Oldendorff and the Begonia, which, under voyage charter to Blue Visby Consortium member CBH Group, performed ballast voyages to CBH Group’s Kwinana Grain Terminal, Australia.The Blue Visby Solution is aimed at eradicating Sail Fast Then Wait (SFTW): the operational practice of ships that sail to their destination "with the utmost despatch", without regard to other ships or to the conditions at the destination.

A project, GASS, led by Navtor, with six other Norwegian research, innovation and industry partners, has been awarded 44 million Norwegian kroner to develop new commercial AI-enhanced technology and services to optimize the energy usage of vessels and ships.Navtor, Grieg Star, Maritime CleanTech, Scandinavian Reach Technologies, Simula Research Laboratory, SinOceanic Shipping and Sustainable Energy are partnering on the project which will enable vessel owners and operators to…

Cargill has signed a three-year contract that will see ZeroNorth become Cargill’s primary software provider for optimisation of over 600 vessels. Cargill commenced its strategic partnership with ZeroNorth in 2020. The partnership has expanded over time, with Cargill and ZeroNorth working together to develop ZeroNorth’s fuel model and dry bulk solutions.Eman Abdalla, Global Operations Director for Cargill Ocean Transportation, added: “We are delighted to announce that we’ve chosen ZeroNorth as our vessel and voyage optimisation digital platform.

Yara Marine Technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) application developers Molflow, Chalmers University of Technology and social science specialists from Halmstad University and Gothenburg University have collaborated over three years to develop and trial an AI-based semi-autonomous voyage planning system.Initiated in August 2020, the Via Kaizen project explores how AI and machine learning can enable more energy-efficient voyage planning for ship operators. The project demonstrated…