The SPOS concept is a simple one:
Provide the master with all relevant weather forecast information and tools to optimise his voyage planning. With today’s technologies (computers, satcom) this is well possible and cheaper than routing support from a meteorologist onshore. Furthermore the master is responsible for the vessel and is best aware of operational interests and restrictions for vessel and cargo.
Therefore Meteo Consult offers shipping companies a software tool that can be installed on a normal computer with e-mail access. Via SPOS the master can subscribe to a weather forecast for his ocean and/or coastal area and receive up to 2 updates per day. All that at a fixed annual subscription fee so there are no surprises for the budget of the owner/manager.
Onboard, the master receives a complete weather forecast with high quality data which includes pressure, wind, sea, swell and ocean currents. Also fronts, ice limits and tropical cyclone forecasts are available. When the master chooses an extended forecast set, also 500mb charts, weather (rain, snow, thunder, fog,…), risk of precipitation, temperatures of sea and air, visibility and risk of icing become available in SPOS.
The SPOS software itself is easy to operate. In 5 screens, the following functions have been grouped:
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Subscribe to, update and display weather charts on a flexible chart presentation
The user can enter specific vessel and voyage information such as departure, destination, speed settings, fuel consumption information etcetera. Also weather limits for the vessel may be defined here.
Calculates standard routes such as great circle and rhumbline or let the system calculate the optimum route for you, taking wind, waves and currents into account.
Evaluates the calculated routes in a quick comparison or detailed graphs and tables.
Based on the performance analysis, the master can select a route plan to sail and save this as his voyage plan. Each day, this plan can be updated with the latest weather forecast. Status reports can be printed or e-mailed directly from SPOS.
Optionally, SPOS can be extended with a 6th screen seakeeping, related to ship motions. Motions, accelerations, probability for slamming etc. may be calculated for a particular ship and taken into account. Motion limits may be set when calculating routes. This module is currently used on a selection of heavy cargo vessels.
The SPOS system has a proven track record and is used on over 1000 ships both ocean going and in short sea shipping. For more information on SPOS benefits, please click here or go to the SPOS software demonstration page.