AWT Weather Routing/Routeing: Applied Weather Technology

Fleet Monitoring Through AWT

By Rich Brown

AWT utilizes several methods to assist our clients in monitoring their ships at sea. Our Fleet and Weather Portal is used extensively by many clients interested in tracking their ships by way of routing or polling, or to determine the position of their fleet in relation to prevailing weather. They can also monitor their vessel's performance for speed and consumption. Similarly, they can use an office version of our BVS software to accomplish the same tasks.

However, AWT is also integrating our data with other technologies in order to maintain our leading position in the field, dedicated to helping shipping companies efficiently monitor and optimize the utilization of their fleet. Look for announcements from AWT as these features come on line in the future.

An increasing number of our clients are using, or have plans to use Google Earth™ in order to monitor their fleet. The attached image is a snapshot showing how AWT is helping our clients utilize that technology by showing the ship tracks overlaid on the forecast of pressure, winds, waves (brown and orange), and currents (green). Our clients can view detailed data concerning the voyage such as distance/time sailed and to go, estimated time of arrival as well as calculations regarding the vessel's performance and consumption.

Clients running Google Earth can access eight days of weather and wave data either by FTP or via a web-link to AWT servers. The AWT fleet information can then be utilized by clients' in-house monitoring programs. Ships being polled by AWT, or through other companies such as Purple Finder™, can be tracked as well.

With these various options, AWT can ensure that our clients have the best data in the most usable formats in order to maximize safety and profitability.