Weathernews has partnered with Belgian technology firm Toqua to integrate vessel-specific AI performance models into its voyage optimisation systems, combining real-time weather intelligence with data-driven vessel behaviour analysis.
The collaboration aims to support ship operators in optimising routes based not only on weather forecasts but also on how each vessel performs under different operational and environmental conditions.
The companies claim that the integration of Toqua’s physics-informed AI models with Weathernews’ optimisation platform could deliver up to 3% additional fuel savings and a 50% reduction in arrival time uncertainty.
“Routing optimization consists of three main components – weather forecast, the optimisation algorithm, and the performance model,” said Casimir Morobé, Founder of Toqua.
“Weathernews excels at accurate weather forecasting and has a powerful optimisation engine. But the third component, the performance model, is equally critical.”
“The better the model understands how a specific vessel performs at a given speed, in given weather conditions, at a certain draft, the better the optimisation algorithm can simulate different scenarios and choose the most optimal route.”
The system can be implemented using existing operational data from Weathernews platforms such as Vessel Report or IMOS Veslink. Once activated, the AI continuously refines its performance model as new data is collected.
