Tidetech highlights role of oceanographic data

At the GSCC, Tidetech will highlight the role of integrated oceanographic data in improving vessel efficiency and reducing bunkerage through route and speed optimisation. The presentation will also focus on applications in performance monitoring, improved ocean current forecasts and new regional data models for Singapore/Malacca Straits, the China Sea and other Asian shipping routes.

Penny Haire, managing director, Tidetech, said: “Route and speed optimisation using tide and current data goes beyond weather routing in that it results in additional bunkerage savings and efficiencies that are unrelated to weather.”

“A key point of difference is oceanographic data can be applied to deep ocean and coastal routing, as well as restricted navigation channels, whereas weather routing is a deep ocean, or Pilot-to-Pilot, service – both options add benefits to efficiency in different areas. It’s also notable that very little capital investment is required to integrate the data into existing systems,” she added.

Tidetech says that trials and further analysis with a major cruise line found that bunker savings of 1% to 4% were shown on routes using the Gulf Stream currents. When applying speed optimisation, significant savings can also be made when optimising vessel speed through restricted navigation and channels such as the English Channel and the Malacca Straits.

Tidetech will also be doing a presentation at the Green Ship Technology 2013 conference in March 2013.