Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA and partner Wallenius Marine AB have entered into a joint venture with Norwegian meteorological company, StormGeo AS, to develop a range of innovative software solutions for the shipping industry.
StormGeo will hold 50% of the new venture with the remaining 50% split evenly between the two other partners.
“Fuel efficiency is, maybe, our most important contribution to greener shipping. By combining Wilhelmsen’s and Wallenius’ vast experience from operating vessels with StormGeo’s meteorological and ship specific datamodels, we will contribute to making a tailor-made software solution for the shipping industry. This unique system will give us as owners as well as our commercial operators’ decisive tools to optimize voyages with fuel efficient operations being one of the key benefits,” says Jan Eyvin Wang, president and CEO at Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA . “The innovative solution will also contribute to safer operations for crew and vessels operating on the seven seas.”
“We see that our customers are facing new and more demanding requirements from the authorities and customers for even safer and less polluting operations. By utilizing information from vessel performance with weather forecasting models as well as sophisticated models covering technical specification of vessels, we can help our customers develop safer and more cost-efficient operations,” says Erik Langaker, chair of StormGeo . “We look forward to joining the two world leading operators in the car and high and heavy segment to further develop solutions which will contribute to their continued reduction of fuel consumption and their strive to make positive contributions to a cleaner environment.”
The three partners will first and foremost develop solutions for Wilhelmsen’s and Wallenius’ fleets, but see the broader commercial opportunities for the software going forward.
“Through developing an efficient, well-proven system, we see opportunities for making this game-changing technology and solution commercially available to the global merchant fleet,” says Wang . “However, before offering this externally, we will make sure the system is well-proven and highly efficient.”
[mappress]
WWASA, October 11, 2012