ABB has introduced a new feature to its Routing Services portfolio that will allow vessel owners to manage fuel costs on a through-voyage basis by optimizing vessel optimal route and speed at the same time.
Thought to be the first solution in the market equipped to optimise track and operating speeds simultaneously against anticipated weather, the feature is included in the ABB Ability Routeguard onshore routing service – in a first upgrade since ABB acquired the shipping business of DTN Europe and DTN Philippines earlier in 2024.
Optimal Speed Routing offers capability to advise operators of any changes they should make to the vessel track or speed to avoid heavy weather as part of overall calculations made within Routeguard covering route optimisation. It uses latest available meteorological information and real-time inputs like vessel daily hire costs, fuel costs and user defined vessel performance models to recommend slowing down to let rougher conditions pass or speeding up to stay ahead of them, thereby minimising fuel consumption on calculated routes to cut costs and reduce emissions as a result.
Osku Kälkäjä, Head of Digital Business, ABB Marine & Ports said: “Optimal Speed Routing is an exciting addition to our digital offering, and we are grateful to our esteemed new colleagues who joined us recently and brought with them the Routing Services portfolio.”
Jarco van den Brink, Product Manager, Routing Services, ABB Marine & Ports added: “Adding our Routing Services portfolio to ABB’s existing digital services is a major milestone and we look forward to further opportunities to complement the offering and keep supporting our customers.”
In addition to ABB Ability Routeguard, the Optimal Speed Routing is available within the Shipping APIs (Application Programming Interface).
Image: ABB introduces Optimal Speed Routing to help vessels enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions (ABB/JLA)