Why should weather routing and performance monitoring be separated?

It has become common practice for charterers to hire weather routing companies that provide voyage proposals and monitor vessel performance, often to support speed or consumption claims. While collecting and analyzing performance data is valuable, weather routing raises critical concerns.

First and foremost, I wish to know the level of expertise of those offering advices.

All mariners study "Meteorology" in Marine Academy at least for one year. Then, all your sea life you have daily practice to improve your skill.

During a previous contract, I had a challenging discussion with a weather forecast service regarding one of their questionable suggestions. After much back-and-forth, I was told: "Our program is based on AI, and if AI says so, it's true."

Curious, I conducted some research on the company through LinkedIn. To my surprise, their staff consisted entirely of young IT professionals aged 20–25, with no apparent background in meteorology, maritime experience, or related fields.

- Most standard charter party agreements (C/P) include clauses guaranteeing vessel speed and consumption performance under conditions of wind force below Beaufort 4 and sea state below 3.

Now, consider the scenario:

- The weather routing company is hired by the charterer.

- This same company provides the "official" weather reports used to assess vessel performance.

Guess what wind force and sea state will most frequently appear in their reports? It's no surprise that their forecasts often lean towards showing conditions as being within the limits of the C/P clause, even when real-world observations from the vessel might indicate otherwise.

This creates a clear conflict of interest. The company providing weather routing has a vested interest in supporting the charterer’s claims, potentially at the expense of accuracy or fairness.

- Weather routing is not just about optimizing time and fuel consumption. Its primary and most important function is to ensure the safety of the vessel and crew.

This is where the problem becomes more evident. While routing companies provide voyage proposals, all their plans include disclaimers stating they bear zero responsibility for the outcomes—placing all the accountability squarely on the master’s shoulders.

Yet, if the master decides not to follow their "advice" for valid safety reasons, the charterer often responds with threats of off-hire periods or deviation fees. This creates a stressful and unfair dynamic, forcing masters to justify decisions that prioritize safety over cost efficiency.

Weather routing should be conducted by experienced professionals who understand the nuances of maritime safety, meteorology, and the realities of life at sea. Meanwhile, tasks such as fuel efficiency monitoring, ecological assessments, and other data-driven metrics can be effectively managed by IT specialists, who excel in these areas.