Wärtsilä Voyage and Japan-based Weathernews Inc (WNI), the world’s largest private weather routing provider, have signed a strategic partnership agreement
The partnership will enable the integration of WNI’s weather forecasting data and Optimum Ship Routeing (OSR) service with Wärtsilä’s products and solutions, thereby increasing navigational safety and supporting the decarbonization efforts of ship owners and operators.
By automating navigation and route planning functions with weather avoidance technology, owners can reduce risks and allow seafarers to concentrate on other operational requirements. WNI currently supports around 10,000 vessels worldwide using an unequaled number of risk communicators and meteorologists to deliver advanced weather forecasting
“Sailing through bad weather has numerous downsides. Containers can get lost overboard, fuel consumption increases and schedules can be compromised.
By having the fastest and most accurate advance warning of weather situations integrated into our navigational and voyage systems, these losses can be avoided.
This is why this agreement with WNI is so important,” says Kay Dausendschoen, Head of Product, Fleet Operations Solutions & Optimisation, Wärtsilä Voyage.
Under this agreement, WNI’s forecasting models can be integrated, for example, into Wärtsilä’s Fleet Operations Solution (FOS). FOS is a unique service that automatically optimizes a ship’s route by providing the fullest and latest voyage data, at the same time keeping both the onboard and shore-based personnel informed and notified.
With the addition of frequent state-of-the-art weather information, FOS can be even more effective in increasing navigational safety, reducing fuel consumption, and optimizing the voyage leg.
“We are tremendously excited about this partnership with such an important industry player. We look forward to rewarding, long-term cooperation with Wärtsilä and in developing winning solutions in line with our shared goal to make shipping safer and more sustainable,” said Henrik Faurschou, Global Product and Market Strategy Leader at WNI.
