DIRECT optimization algorithm in weather routing of ships

Paper in proceeding, 2015

Weather routing represents one increasingly recognized method for reducing fuel consumption, hereby lowering emissions and costs. This paper provides a short outline of weather routing of ships, while focus is on the implementation of the DIRECT (Dividing RECTangles) algorithm in the construction of a novel weather routing tool made under supervision from Maersk Maritime Technology. It is evaluated on several conceptual cases to determine capabilities of route profiles avoiding obstacles such as adverse storms by varying voyage speed and utilizing weather to schedule a route with rmnimized fuel consumption. This paper discusses the application of the developed routing tool for shortest route, land avoidance, storm avoidance and combinations. Strengths and weaknesses of the utilization of the DIRECT algorithm are discussed.