Satellite integrated route optimisation service

Between 2012 and 2018, total CO2-emissions caused by shipping increased by 9.3% to 1 056 tonnes. The ESA-supported BLUE SIROS project aims to minimize the environmental impact of ship voyages by optimizing maritime routes and thus reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Source: International Maritime Organization IMO

The Blue SIROS project studies the feasibility of an operational system for marine route optimisation, which integrates modelling and forecasts of ocean currents based on near-real time satellite altimetry data. The service aims at enabling operators to minimize fuel consumption and reduce the fuel cost, thus increasing their profit. In addition, given that ship air emissions are related to fuel consumption, the service also aims at minimizes the environmental impact of ship voyages and has a clear societal and environmental effect. The service mainly targets shipping companies as well as companies providing systems and services for route optimisation, planning and navigation. The service is based on a ship integrated system providing real-time marine routing, integrating Earth Observation data and information about and from the sea-going vessel. An advantage of the product is that the service will be able to provide both total currents and directions, where the total currents are the sum of weather, tidal and permanent ocean currents and the current acting on the ship.