Skip Vaccarello

Ship and crew safety is one of our top priorities at AWT. We invest heavily in technology, processes, and people to make sure our recommendations allow for safe voyages. It is always encouraging when we hear comments from our customers concerning how our products and services have had a beneficial effect on safety and have reduced ship damage. In this issue of AWT Insights, you will read how AWT's BVS software has helped shipping company Unicom Management Services (Cyprus) Ltd avoid ship damage in dramatic fashion.

For decades, a contentious issue between ship masters and charterers is on the accurate reporting of vessel position as it relates to the "Good Weather" provisions of the Charter Party. George Schlinkert, AWT's VP of Operations and a 30 year industry veteran, discusses a possible solution to this issue in our second article.

Enjoy reading these insightful articles. We welcome your feedback.

Thank you,
Skip Vaccarello

Dave Callicott

AWT Customer SCF Unicom Averts Heavy Weather Damage
by Dave Callicott

What David Sharp said to me recently might rank as one of my all-time favorite quotes from a customer. He commented, "We used to measure heavy weather damage in terms of hundreds of thousands of dollars and the number of days our ships spent being repaired, now we measure it in the tens of dollars and number of lost lifebuoys."

David is HSSE (health, safety, security and environmental) team manager for SCF Unicom Management Services (Cyprus) Ltd., and he achieved results in the reduction of heavy weather damage to SCF Unicom's fleet in part by adopting AWT's BVS Marine Voyage Optimization Software.

As David tells the story, it used to be that during a serious winter, SCF Unicom might have had three or four ships suffering from heavy weather damage – everything from decimation of bulwarks to loss of expensive deck equipment to damage to the decks themselves. With occurrences of heavy weather damage costing approximately $100,000 per incident and taking ships out of commission, causing them to lose valuable time at sea and revenue, the stakes were high for figuring out a way to prevent heavy weather damage to SCF Unicom's fleet… read more >

George Schlinkert

Sleeve Miles
by George Schlinkert

Weather forecast models have always required immense computer power to process all of the available data to ensure a timely analysis and accurate forecast. Today's advanced technology allows real-time winds and waves to be accurately measured around the globe. Similarly, models have been developed that precisely measure and predict ocean currents. GPS and modern navigation systems have transformed the art of navigation into the science of navigation.

While there have been massive improvements in the scientific measurement of real time weather and current conditions, the same cannot be said of the changes made to Charter Party descriptions. Most of the arguments which have been published regarding speed and consumption disputes refer to discrepancies between the log-recorded weather and those recorded by an independent agency, and what the good weather definition actually implies. There seems to have been little or no advance in questioning any of the weather data or position information reported by the Master… read more >

BonVoyage System

Marine voyage optimization system provides 24/7 on-board weather…
more >

BonVoyage System & Ship Routing

The combination of BonVoyage System & AWT's ship routing services…more >

Fleet Management

Quickly monitor your fleet & ensure they are operating efficiently & safely…
more >

Ship Routing – Earliest Arrival

Our weather routing experts recomend the optimum route analyzing… more >

Ship Routing – Fuel Optimization

Improve schedule integrity & minimize fleet's fuel consumption… more >

Tracking/Polling

Tracking & automated satellite position polling service locates vessels…
more >

Offshore Support

Pre-departure route planning & forecasting en-route… more >

Arbitration Support &
Forensic Studies

AWT has prepared numerous reports for use in arbitration & legal venues…
more >

AWT (www.awtworldwide.com) is the leading provider of fleet optimization services, ship routing services and onboard voyage management software to ship owners, operators and charterers seeking the safest and most efficient routes for their fleets. Unlike companies that provide weather services for multiple industries, or companies which only offer onboard weather software, AWT is staffed by world-renown experts in ship routing, meteorology, IT, maritime science and former mariners who are focused solely on the maritime industry. Using the most sophisticated technology available, AWT routes more ships per month than any other company. Its superior customer service and integrity have made AWT the most trusted fleet optimization provider in the maritime industry. Founded in 1996, AWT is privately held and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with worldwide offices located in the UK, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Korea, Germany, New York, and New Jersey. More information is available at www.awtworldwide.com or by calling 1-408-731-8600.