Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions owners, operators, charterers and platform partners ask us most. If yours is not here, write to info@optimumvoyage.ai and we will answer within one business day.
Voyage optimization
What is voyage optimisation in shipping?
Voyage optimization is the continuous selection of the route and speed profile that best meets a voyage's commercial objective, such as minimum cost, on-time arrival or charterparty performance, given the vessel's actual consumption characteristics and the forecast weather and currents. At Optimum Voyage, route and speed are optimized together and the plan is re-optimized every day of the voyage.
What is the difference between weather routing and voyage optimization?
Weather routing traditionally chooses a route around adverse weather for a given speed. Voyage optimization treats route, speed and engine load as one problem and balances fuel, time, cost and safety against a commercial objective. Optimum Voyage delivers both: every voyage is weather-routed, and route and speed are optimized simultaneously. Our article on the subject explains the distinction in more detail.
Why does re-optimizing every day matter?
Forecasts change, vessel performance drifts and operational instructions are updated. A plan made at departure is out of date within days. Optimum Voyage re-optimizes every active voyage every 24 hours on the latest forecasts, so the recommendation always reflects current conditions rather than the picture at departure.
How much fuel can voyage optimization save?
Results depend on the trade, the vessel and how closely recommendations are followed. TORM, across 90+ product tankers, reported 10% lower fuel consumption, 13% less time in bad weather and 1 to 2% faster voyages (source: TORM). The most reliable way to know the potential for your own vessels is an executed voyage optimization on a voyage you have already sailed.
Working with Optimum Voyage
How do we try the service before committing?
Three options. A full weather routing trial on one or more live voyages, with daily advice to the vessel. A shadow voyage, where the same optimization runs shore-side only and nothing changes on board. Or an executed voyage optimization, where a completed voyage is re-optimized on the forecasts available at the time, with no hindsight bias. All three end with a review of the results together.
Is there any CAPEX, installation or onboard equipment?
No. The managed service needs no hardware, software installation or crew training. The vessel receives daily routing advice by email, including an RTZ route file for ECDIS, and reports through online or offline noon report forms. The API service integrates into systems you already run.
Who do we deal with day to day?
The Optimum Voyage operations team, available seven days a week. Every recommendation is reviewed by experienced maritime professionals before it is sent, and the same people follow your vessels voyage after voyage.
What information do you need to appoint a voyage?
Vessel name and IMO number, draft and condition, departure and destination ports, ETD, required ETA where applicable, fuel prices, daily hire or cost of time, relevant charterparty requirements and any operational limitations. Voyages can be appointed on the portal or by email to operations@optimumvoyage.ai.
Charterparty performance and claims
Can the optimization respect charterparty speed and consumption warranties?
Yes. The CP operation mode optimizes within a defined daily consumption target and keeps weather exposure down while minimizing fuel, and routing advice takes agreed speed and consumption warranties, weather criteria and arrival windows into account. The portal shows a daily indication of performance against the vessel's charterparty description.
Do you handle speed and consumption claims?
Yes, for owners, charterers and operators. Every analysis starts from the charterparty wording. The voyage is reconstructed from vessel reports, AIS and hindcast weather and currents, performance is tested against the agreed warranty, and the result is quantified with every step shown. Our claims team includes active members of LMAA, HKMAG, SCMA and CIArb. Speed and consumption claims.
API and platforms
Can we integrate voyage optimisation into our own platform?
Yes. The Optimum Voyage API gives maritime software providers and in-house systems access to all optimization modes, returning optimized routes and waypoints, speed profiles, ETA, fuel consumption, engine-load profile, alternative scenarios and ECDIS-compatible RTZ routes, with a notification to your system when each result is ready. The engine already runs inside Weilbach, Tototheo Global and Enamor.
Can we use our own vessel consumption models with the API?
Yes. Vessels can run on an Optimum Voyage model, on your own calm-water model combined with Optimum Voyage weather-impact modelling, or on a complete external model you supply. The setup is chosen vessel by vessel, so mixed fleets run through one integration.
Still have a question? Write to info@optimumvoyage.ai or message us on WhatsApp.