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September 2005 45 By Darrell Converse and Trevor Bevens, Weather Routing, Inc. Weather Routing, Inc. (WRI), a New York-based, worldwide weather forecasting service has been pro- viding marine weather assistance for ships of all sizes for nearly half a century. WRI is committed to devel- oping an optimal, efficient and safe track for ocean voyages based on weather forecasts and on a ship's individual characteristics for a particular transit. Should the vessel roll easily in heavy swell or become excessively slowed by strong winds, WRI takes this into consideration for routing a vessel while keeping the safety of the crew, vessel and goods paramount. WRI issues optional forecast maps in conjunction with text forecasts. The maps are sent to the vessel's email and have become increasingly helpful for the captains and crew to visually determine what types of currents and weather features are to be expected enroute. In some cases where weather fax is not avail- able on board the vessel, WRI may be the only source of weather assistance. Over the years, the key to opti- mal routing and more accurate forecasting has been the type and amount of communication WRI has with the vessels. Each day, WRI receives reports from the ves- sels detailing position, speed, weather, sea state, course heading and ETA. This data is put into WRI's computer routing system to allow for accurate dead- reckoning of the vessels based on local cur- rents and expected weather. These computer programs provide the meteorologists the appropriate tools to create the most precise forecast available for the voyage. When criti- cal routing decisions are warranted such as during tropical season, WRI has taken the ini- tiative to call particular vessels to inquire about ETD's from certain ports or make sure they were on recommended routes. Captains have applauded WRI on the great cooperation for years. However, as we know, only great cooperation between captain and ship router is how ship routers win trust time and time again. WRI provides vessels with forecasts only generated by meteorologists, not a computer. This does not discredit the importance of com- puters; however it is the proper man-computer interac- tion that puts WRI ahead of the field in terms of deliv- ering a superior product in a timely and efficient mat- ter. Circle 29 on Reader Service Card Circle 216 on Reader Service Card Software Solutions Weather and Ship Routing Marine Software Wins P&O Deal Pictured Left to Right: Robert Jennings (MS Development & Computer Services Manager); Mark Jennings (MS Operations Manager); Darren Wilmshurst (P&O Business Systems Manager); Mark Newton (P&O IT Project Manager); Mike Langley (P&O Project Manager, Fleet Procurement). Marine Software Ltd. signed an exclusive con- tract with P&O Ferries to provide fleet wide Procurement, Planned Maintenance and Stock Control software systems. Marine Software will provide full crew training at its U.K training facil- ity, along with all ship board installations. The company will also interface the centralized pro- curement module into their CODA accounting system. Mike Langley, Fleet Manager said, "Marine Software Ltd offered a fully integrated IT package for Procurement, Planned Maintenance and Stock control, best suited to our onboard man- agement systems delivering a flexible solution closest to a bespoke system, off the shelf. The decision was based following our experience on North Sea and Irish Sea, where two of the mod- ules: Marine Planned Maintenance and Stock Control, have proved to be fully functional, easy to use, and well supported." Circle 23 on Reader Service Card Digital Moboard Launched Pipeline Communications and Technology, Inc. launched Digital Moboard, a digitized naval track- ing and anti-collision software based upon the familiar maneuver board, which is used globally to manually track the course, heading, distance, speed, and closest point of approach of nearby naval vessels to one's own ship. Digital Moboard is designed to significantly reduce the opportuni- ties for human error via its ability to track several times the number of ships. Digital Moboard is designed to give fast, verifiable solutions that enable the mariner to manage radar contacts in a familiar format. It calculates Closest Point of Approach, Trial Course and Speed, Wind Headings, Drive to Station, and much more. Advanced versions can be networked with training modes, and GPS, ARPA and AIS interfaces avail- able. Circle 24 on Reader Service Card Perception Management System by SPAR SPAR developed Perception, an integrated ship- yard planning and management system. Its mod- ules are designed to provide cost estimating; plan- ning and scheduling; purchasing and material con- trol; work orders and labor hour time charge man- agement; vendor invoice control; and shipyard performance reporting and forecasting. Other services provided by SPAR include training & sys- tems integration; shipyard management consult- ing; independent cost estimating; and custom sys- tems development. Independent cost estimating serving shipyards world wide, design agents, the U.S. Navy and the U.S.C.G. Circle 25 on Reader Service Card MR SEPTEMBER 2005 #6 (41-48).qxd 9/1/2005 1:06 PM Page 45
