Applied Weather Technology Unveils Version 6.0 of BonVoyage System Software

Applied Weather Technology, a provider of fleet optimization services and onboard voyage management software to ship owners, operators and charterers, has announced the release of version 6.0 of its BonVoyage System software.

 

The new version of the icon-driven graphical marine voyage optimization system is loaded with new features which are designed to aid Ship Captains and fleet managers to conserve fuel usage and curb CO2 emissions by letting them plan the most fuel-efficient routes given the latest weather and sea conditions.

 

According to AWT (News - Alert), the sophisticated, user-friendly system offers on-board and around-the-clock weather-routing information in a comprehensive and cost-effective way. The BVS 6.0 also comes with new innovations such as high-resolution NCOM data, 16-day forecasts updated four times daily, and 10 years of historical climate data for planning voyages longer than 16 days.

 

AWT officials have explained that in order to ensure on-time arrival of fleet ship captains usually follow a get-there-as-fast-as-possible approach at the beginning of the voyage and slow down at the end. But with BVS 6.0 they can chart an optimal course for their ship to follow so that they can arrive on time and conserve fuel by travelling at more constant speeds, which benefits both the ship’s engines and the environment.

 

The company has said that the BVS 6.0 makes it possible for the first time for the system to suggest routes intended to minimize voyage time, fuel costs and CO2 emissions given the vessel’s target ETA.

 

Users of the software have acknowledged that the biggest advantage of using BVS 6.0 is taking the safest route that uses the least amount of fuel and the new version is also capable of quickly and clearly displaying weather and sea conditions.

 

AWT has added that one of the significant new feature into the BVS 6.0, the current Naval Coastal Ocean Model data, which now allows ship Captains to view real-time analyses and forecasts of ocean current conditions at a quarter by quarter degree, rather than at the generally available one by one degree.

 

And also BVS 6.0 is the only onboard routing software to provide Captains and crew with 16-day forecasts updated four times daily. Rich Brown, AWT’s VP of Product Management said that providing 16-day forecasts four times daily puts AWT a step ahead of its competitors that only deliver new forecast information one to two times daily and as a result, captains using BVS 6.0 are can make better decisions with more detailed information.