XShip Analytics Forecasts IBM Has Real-Time Weather Down

Marine consultants XShip Design and Analytics will integrate real-time weather data into into its XShip platform. IBM’s Weather Company will enhance vessel management and performance. The marine transport industry relies heavily on accurate weather data to plan voyages effectively. Ship captains — and other operators — use this information to predict and address issues that can affect performance or efficiency.

Saving Costs Through Technical Innovation

The XShip Platform uses analytics to drive energy management, including fuel savings. The platform manages 250 vessels that average consumption of 25 tons of fuel daily. That consumption adds up to $781 million a year. Optimizing the charter process could save an estimated $4.3 million. Adding weather data could increase savings 3% — or another $6 million.

See also: AI’s role in weather forecasting still cloudy 

“Data-driven energy management is the present and the future of vessel performance management,” Himanshu Goyal, Sales and Alliances Leader, The Weather Company says. “For an industry where fuel costs represent as much as 50-60% of the total costs, any initiative to save fuel makes a lot of sense.”

The XShip platform will be upgraded and integrated with the IBM weather data and other advanced add-ons. The platforms proprietary algorithm can calculate fuel consumption with an accuracy rate of up to 95%.

“Route optimization application based on accurate weather data is under trial. We may release it soon,” says Syam Krishnan, Head of Vessel Performance Research, XShip. “Here, estimated time of arrival is met even if the distance traveled is high. Route optimization does not just avoid bad weather but helps with the selection of the best possible route. This can be done with a combination of accurate weather prediction and suitable consumption models.”