Weathernews builds analytical stronghold in Athens

Global weather data provider Weathernews Inc. Inc (WNI) has been constantly boosting its analytical capabilities at its Athens base to provide even more accurate weather forecasts and critical insights for European customers. Here two Operations Center specialists explain how the team pulls together to deliver consistent high-quality service: ‘Yes, we have sophisticated AI tools and the market’s most extensive weather databases, but the human element matters just as much’.

Voyage Planner Vasiliki Kouroupaki and Performance Analyst Anna Bazou are proud to be part of a team whose combined expertise helps Weathernews customers manage the challenges faced by the #maritimeindustry on a daily basis, namely reducing fuel consumption and #emissions while at the same time enhancing safety.

“Clients can reach out to us and get the immediate feedback they need 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We have automated solutions in place that take care of the more tedious aspects of our everyday manual tasks, which frees us to spend more time on the critical aspects that people value the most –the ongoing support we provide to ships at sea and our market-leading voyage performance reporting,” says Bazou.

The human factor is what sets Weathernews apart from competitors. “We don’t base performance reports solely on AI technologies but apply our critical thinking to weed out discrepancies and solve abstract problems. While we rely on AI to augment our problem-solving capabilities, we prioritize a personalized approach over cookie-cutter solutions that may limit us,” Bazou adds.

Essential performance monitoring

Many years’ of harvested data from a large fleet and continuous performance monitoring enable Weathernews to give estimates of vessel performance and optimize routes with the least possible margin of error. Customers can access daily performance data on Weathernews’ Platform, so they constantly track each ship and take measures to rectify underperformance both in the short term and as part of long-term strategic planning.

“The platform also offers the capability to monitor each vessel’s CII emissions. This is now imperative in long-term charters to comply with the BIMCO CII clause and to maintain the vessel’s CII rating,” says Bazou.

Leveraging the power of automation

Weathernews has integrated multiple physical resources and automation tools to supercharge available data. “That in turn enhances the quality of our output and minimizes time spent on each task,” says Kouroupaki. Automated tools flag expected risks or heavy #weather help to ensure the #safety of vessels. “For example, our damage risk tool provides information to vessel masters on potential risks such as heavy seas, parametric / synchronous rolling risk, successive wave attack, and loss of intact stability during a specific time-period. The information includes detailed explanations of each risk and suggested measures to prevent damage,” she adds.

Automated weather alerts, based on acceptable conditions according to vessel specifics and/or cargo, help Voyage Planners first to assess risk then check alternative options that could minimize the risks and adverse conditions. “We then provide captains and shore managers with this risk information and the most cost-efficient solution,” says Kouroupaki.

Other useful tools to assess risk and ensure safety include, for example, showing the likelihood of forecast waves exceeding two meters or showing the correlation between previous damage cases and a current forecast if conditions are similar.

Unbiased authority in OPA claims

For the auditing team typical business cases on a weekly basis are customers using Weathernews’ Voyage Audit Reports to help them assess what countermeasures they might need to enact to improve vessel performance. “Voyage Audit Reports are particularly useful for both shipowners and charterers as they can help them in any claims against their own company or in support of their own claims. We basically act as an independent third party who provide credible assessments of a vessel’s performance,” says Bazou. “As the stakes are quite high when it comes to performance claims and disputes, owners and charterers count on us to provide well-informed solutions in line with the latest arbitration developments such as the Divinegate high court decision.”

She adds that by strengthening analytical capabilities in Athens the team can now deal with the most complex cases. “We try go the extra mile and support goes beyond just audit reports to include Q&As, revisions and any other information customers might need. In addition, our auditing support is consistently available without any limitations or undisclosed fees.”

Key trends in customer requests

Kouroupaki notes the team has recently been getting an increasing number of requests for deviation reports. “Examples are comparisons between actual routes with stoppages or diversions made, and direct routes without stoppages calculating total distance and consumption if the #vessel had followed the initial route. We can simulate and support requests based on different scenarios.”

Further examples are requests for port forecasts and detailed #forecasts for alternative options. “We can provide estimations for expected conditions en route, distances, sailing times, and fuel consumption before to help operators make the best decisions,” she says.

One major client request that has decreased significantly over the past couple of years relate to follow-ups on voyage audits. “This is mainly because we have been able to identify and resolve weaknesses in the reports we provided to clients. We have become more meticulous in analyzing good weather definitions, ensuring these definitions are used correctly in reports. Internal technical automation improvements help to minimize potential human errors, while at the same time the high level of training our personnel undergo, combined with their deep experience, helps mitigate any qualitative issues in reports,” Bazou says.

Greek base comes into its own

The Athens team only had one member as recently as 2020. “Today, we are eight Voyage Planners and five Performance Analysts that specialize in initiating services and handling Performance Auditing Reports which is an intrinsic aspect of Performance Claim Support. We will soon number 16 as we are currently recruiting two more VPs and one more person on the OPA side. We’ve grown fast into a strong base within the Weathernews network, so it’s an exciting time,” says Kouroupaki. “With a significant presence and a vital role in European operations, our Operations team in Athens provides unique benefits to our Greek clients in our position as the central hub”.

Bazou notes that all team members have undergone in-depth training to master and perfect their skills. “Our company culture also encourages everyone to stay up to date with latest #shippingindustry developments, including attending seminars and conferences specific to our area of expertise. That ensure we can provide superior services over the long haul, which builds earned trust with our customer base,” she says.

Promoting diversity and gender equality

“Everyone here in Athens is proud to be part of a highly diverse and multicultural organization. With offices all around the world we cover the needs of clients from many countries with different working styles. As trained communicators our cultural understanding on the personnel side is a major benefit. We aim to build rapport with everyone we speak to,” Bazou says.

As professionals in demanding roles, both she and Kouroupaki agree that WNI is contributing strongly to the progress of women in the maritime industry. “Gender equality and diversity in the workplace promote different perspectives, skills, and knowledge. By including people’s voices from different backgrounds, we can ensure a more dynamic and innovative working environment with multiple opportunities to evolve, grow and obtain more experience in our field,” Kouroupaki says.

Bucking the trend

Elias J. Makris J Makris, Athens-based Director EU at Weathernews Inc. , applauds both Kouroupaki and Bazou’s contribution and says women in similar responsible positions are a boon for the Greek maritime community. “Unfortunately, Greece came last in the European Institute for Gender Equality’s 2022 Gender Equality Index, with a rather measly 53.4 out of 100 points. That is 15.2 points below the score for EU member states as a whole. At Weathernews we’re doing our best, in a small way, to help turn this around,” he says.

Weathernews employs many competent women and Makris says everyone from the top down will be celebrating #InternationalDayforWomeninMaritime on 18 May. “As a large organisation we take diversity seriously and we strive to ensure a progressive and inclusive environment regardless of gender, race, or lifestyle choices. At the end of the day, what’s most important is that our people are excellent communicators with niche skills that our customers demand and pay for.”