Weather routing reduces CO₂ emissions

Choosing the optimum route at sea can reduce fuel consumption and thereby reduce CO₂ emissions. By using Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Weather Routing system, WWL can save both fuel and the environment.

Determining the optimal route to a destination depends on many factors. But none may be as critical for route selection as weather routing.

To ensure the optimal route is selected, WWL uses the SMHI Weather Routing system, which analyses specific voyage data and recommends a route to meet requirements for ontime arrival, safety and fuel emissions reductions. The SMHI Weather Routing system offers decision support to the vessel master who always makes the final route decision.

Should factors change during the voyage, the ship master has 24/7 access to a meteorologist, weather routing data and onboard software to update forecast based on real-time information. This enables the master to take into consideration all relevant data before making any routing modifications.

According to 2008 trials using the system, WWL estimates that the use of SMHI Weather Routing can decrease fuel consumption under optimal conditions by at least 5%.

"This means our services reduce fuel consumption for WWL considerably. A fuel saving of 5% corresponds to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of almost 150,000 tonnes a year," says Lennart Cederberg, product manager for SMHI Shipping.

SMHI weather information is more precise than a standard land-based forecast and, more importantly, integrates ocean currents into its models.

“Ocean currents are a large factor in terms of voyage planning because vessels can gain a major advantage in speed due to the currents," explains Geir Fagerheim, head of fleet management for WWL. “The system offers other benefits as well, including advance planning, improved voyage execution, better schedule precision and support for WWL’s zero-tolerance policy for cargo damage."