2016 Dec – transportweekly – GAC SMHI Weather Solutions contributing to safer and more efficient shipping

Forecasts and route planning tools from GAC-SMHI Weather Solutions are playing a key role in a European Union initiative to promote safer and more efficient shipping.
The Sea Traffic Management (STM) Validation Project, developed by a European Consortium led by the Swedish Maritime Administration, aims to make merchant shipping safer, smoother and more efficient by tackling the fact that international shipping remains relatively unregulated. The route chosen by a ship is often unknown to other vessels – something which can increase the chances of collisions, near misses, congestion and delays. The STM projects aims to tackle that issue by exploring ways in which routing information and planning can be shared to minimise the risks. It is hoped that STM will become the European standard, and eventually be adopted worldwide.