searoutes.com is a distance calculation service that makes use of real historic ship voyages recorded by AIS signals. AIS data offers the advantage that in addition to the position, route and speed, ship-specific data such as the name, the load, the MMSI number, and the radio call sign is also transmitted.
Integrating searoutes.com data into the Cloud Fleet Manager will enable shipping companies to make detailled pre-calculations about the best routes and the anticipated costs of any proposed voyage charter, Hanseaticsoft was cited as saying in a report by London's Tanker Operator.
Companies need to enter into the system tonnage of the cargo being transported, the ship's planned sailing speed and preferred route to immediately receive estimated charter costs. This means that precise budgets can be planned and statements made about the efficiency of the selected route in relation to the cargo, as well as the predicted weather conditions.
Hanseaticsoft managing director, Alexander Buchmann, said: "Adding searoutes.com's navigational data into the Cloud Fleet Manager will hugely benefit shipping companies by improving the accuracy of voyage calculations and their budgeting. In a single cloud-based system, they can carry out detailed route calculations, as well as a pre-calculations of the costs.
"For every route, companies can check how long it will take them to travel any distance and how much fuel they will consume. This will lead to more informed decision making regarding faster routes or a longer route that may take more time but will be more cost and fuel efficient."