Spinergie’s Voyage Optimizer has been developed with fleet logistics teams and ship masters in mind. For logistics teams, it is a trusted modeling solution that helps combat rising fuel costs and seek gains in fuel efficiency while considering EU ETS regulations. For masters, the solution helps them better understand fuel consumption across their most frequent short-sea routes. With this knowledge, they can make more informed voyage planning decisions based on how each route scenario would impact cost, fuel consumption, or ETAs.
A key task for many shipping companies is understanding the trade-offs between delays to planned ETAs and the operational impact on fuel consumption and costs. Part of this awareness requires a modeling tool to forecast different scenarios for the masters, providing them with all the knowledge they need to make the best decision in a given situation, whether they face weather delays or other operational challenges.
Voyage Optimization within Smart Fleet Management
Voyage Optimization is part of Spinergie’s Smart Fleet Management (SFM) solution. SFM equips maritime players with the tools to track, monitor, and optimize their operations. The platform seamlessly combines all data sources into one agile, intuitive point-of-truth solution that eliminates the need for multiple easy-to-lose and difficult-to-keep-up-to-date spreadsheets while providing the in-depth analysis required for informed decision-making. The main purpose of the Voyage Optimization module is to model sailing speed and reduce fuel consumption while meeting operational constraints such as ETAs.
The first step in voyage optimization is ensuring the accuracy of collected fuel consumption data. This can be achieved via sensors or manual crew reporting, backed up by robust quality checks to alleviate the chance of error. Spinergie then combines this fuel consumption data with historical and forecast weather data and location metrics.
With these data points, Spinergie builds a consumption model for each vessel. This model is designed to learn how an individual vessel consumes fuel in all weather conditions via artificial intelligence (AI) and physical vessel specifications and constraints.
In the next step, the consumption of future voyages can be modeled depending on a specified time window and in relation to the weather conditions forecast for that time window.
Crucially, the model allows masters to assess and weigh the pros and cons of potential scenarios to make the best decision. Alongside consumption modeling, captains are also equipped with the total cost scenario - including fuel and carbon tax - taking new regulations into account.
The Benefits of Voyage Optimization
In summary, the Voyage Optimizer tool equips ship captains with increased awareness of best practices in fuel reduction and allows them to easily compare and contrast their most frequent routes. Accessible modeling means all company stakeholders are aligned on possible tradeoffs when deciding sailing plans. This allows them to make informed decisions with all the data analysis at hand. It is also possible to save routes within the solution to reuse later, removing the need to begin the process from scratch every time.
Further, the solution strengthens the link between ship captains and the head of fleet operations, improving company communication on fuel consumption initiatives and reductions overall.
.jpg)
