StormGeo argues that without real-time visibility across operations and markets, value is routinely lost. The focus should be on integrating commercial data into everyday decision-making onboard and ashore.
Voyage optimisation is not just about fuel efficiency. StormGeo’s latest analysis emphasizes a persistent gap between operational planning and commercial outcomes, where decisions on routing and speed are often made without full visibility of market conditions and contractual exposure.
StormGeo’s latest findings point to a persistent gap in voyage planning, where operational choices are often made without full visibility of market conditions, charter terms and cost exposure.
While digital tools have improved routing and fuel efficiency, they have not consistently incorporated the commercial factors that ultimately determine profitability. As a result, decisions that appear efficient on paper can lead to missed opportunities or avoidable losses once market dynamics are considered.
Rolf Reksten, Commercial Lead Routing at StormGeo, said: “Voyage optimization has become an industry buzzword. It is nothing new – this has been the ship operator’s job for decades. What is missing is properly integrating the commercial dimension into that equation.”
He added: “This means that a significant amount of value is being left on the table simply because decisions are not connected to real commercial outcomes. Without full visibility of the commercial picture, optimization remains subject to uncertainty due to unseen variables.”
The report highlights how routine trade-offs, such as speed adjustments or bunkering decisions, can have wider implications for earnings, compliance and contractual performance.
“Time is money in shipping. This is a critical factor in an industry where every minute counts. Commercial visibility means connecting the right data to the right decisions at the right time to effectively manage and relate to these variables in real time,” Reksten said.
Voyage optimisation is shifting towards a model where operational and commercial decisions are managed together, with continuous adjustment as conditions change.
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