Unicom using Applied Weather’s BonVoyage marine software

The following is the text of a press release issued by Applied Weather Technology Inc.:

 

(SUNNYVALE, Calif.) — Applied Weather Technology, Inc. (AWT) today announced that Unicom Management Services (Cyprus) Ltd has now been using its BonVoyage software (BVS), the world’s most popular onboard system for optimizing marine voyages, for 10 years to help its ship Captains steer clear of heavy weather in order to avoid vessel damage and prevent crew injury.

After first adopting BVS in 1999 as part of a trial on three ships, SCF Unicom observed that the onboard software was helping its Captains to reduce heavy weather damage to those ships. The company then quickly expanded use of BVS to approximately 17 ships within its managed fleet, and after positive feedback from Captains, now routinely deploys BVS to all new vessels. BVS is now deployed on more than 70 Unicom vessels.

According to SCF Unicom, BVS helps the company reduce costs and delays spent in dry dock for repairs from heavy weather damage. BVS also saves the company money by preventing the occurrence of heavy weather vessel damage, which has in the past cost around $100,000 per incident and taken ships out of commission, causing them to lose valuable time at sea and revenue. Since 2001 Unicom has not suffered any serious structural damages due to heavy weather encounters. Damages have been mostly limited to minor fittings and fixtures.

“We used to measure heavy weather damage in terms of hundreds of thousands of dollars and the number of days our ships spent being repaired – now we measure our heavy weather damage in the tens of dollars and number of lost lifebuoys,†said David Sharp, HSSE (health, safety, security and environmental) Team Manager at Unicom. “We have trialed other companies’ weather data, and my opinion the onboard software we have from AWT is the most visually easy to understand and follow. Our crews are very comfortable using it to avoid conditions that could cause heavy weather damage.â€

“We would like to recognize SCF Unicom for demonstrating that the company is innovative and forward-thinking by adopting AWT’s onboard routing software 10 years ago when these systems were still somewhat in their infancy, and for continuing to leverage the latest BVS technology to the full benefit of its Captains, crews and fleet today,†said Skip Vaccarello, president and CEO of AWT. “Currently over 99% of BVS users continue to operate and upgrade the software, and we are very pleased that Unicom remains a longstanding customer.â€

SCF Unicom says that in addition to using BVS to avoid dangerous weather conditions, its ship Captains also use BVS to examine ways to minimize fuel consumption and therefore carbon emissions, and to select the most time- and fuel-efficient routes to their destinations. Also, when there are weather systems that cause concern for their Captains and operations teams, they take advantage of AWT’s weather routing services to ensure crew, vessel and cargo safety.

More than 3000 vessels from numerous companies use BVS to help identify the safest, most time-efficient or fuel-efficient routes. BVS is an icon-driven graphical marine voyage optimization system that provides ship Captains with onboard and around-the-clock weather-routing information. One of the key differentiators between BVS and competing solutions is that BVS not only delivers weather forecasts, but also creates custom and optimal routes for ship Captains based on data from weather as well as waves, currents, cargo and vessel specifications.

AWT recently announced the latest update to BVS, Version 5.6, which now provides Captains with advance warning about threats of severe motions due to resonance, and integrates the latest technology used to determine ocean currents by offering forecast, real time Naval Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) current data. For more information about BVS, please visit http://www.awtworldwide.com/products/bon-voyage-system.asp.

About AWT

AWT (www.awtworldwide.com) is the leading provider of fleet optimization services and onboard voyage management software to ship owners, operators and charterers seeking the safest and most efficient routes for their fleets. Unlike companies that provide weather services for multiple industries, or companies which only offer onboard weather software, AWT is staffed by world-renowned experts in ship routing, meteorology, IT, maritime science and former ship captains who are focused solely on the maritime industry. Using the most sophisticated technology available, AWT routes more ships per month than any other company. Its superior customer service and integrity have made AWT the most trusted fleet optimization provider in the maritime industry. Founded in 1996, AWT is privately held and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with worldwide offices located in the UK, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Korea, Germany, New York, and New Jersey. More information is available at www.awtworldwide.com or by calling 1-408-731-8600.

About SCF Unicom
Unicom Management Services (Cyprus) Ltd is the wholly owned ship manager for the Russian State ship owning company JSC Sovcomflot. JSC Sovcomflot has two other ship management teams – SCF Novoship in Novorossiysk and SCF Marpetrol in Spain. SCF Unicom headquarters was established in Limassol, Cyprus in January, 1991 as a joint venture between the Swiss based ship management company, Acomarit and Russia’s state owned shipping company, Sovcomflot. In 1994 Sovcomflot purchased Acomarit’s 70% stakehold in Unicom and nominated Unicom as its exclusive manager for the Sovcomflot fleet. Since that time Unicom has steadily grown into one of the most reputable ship management companies within the sector. Its managed fleet currently comprises over 79 vessels and has expanded to include crude oil and gas tankers and most recently, ice class tankers for employment in Russia’s Arctic region. More information can be found at http://www.unicom-cy.com.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

By Professional Mariner Staff