Reducing energy consumption in maritime navigation
The Weather Routing Tool (WRT) is an open-source Python library developed by 52°North for calculating optimal maritime routes. Its development began under the MariData project (funded by BMWE) and is currently continuing as part of the EU TwinShip project. WRT’s primary objective is to minimize fuel consumption in the shipping industry by using environmental data to help route vessels. This data includes various meteorological parameters, such as wind and wave conditions, as well as water depth information.
To determine the most efficient path for a vessel, WRT uses advanced pathfinding techniques, including an isofuel algorithm and a genetic algorithm. These algorithms consider crucial factors such as wind speed and direction, wave height, and vessel performance. WRT is a valuable resource for research, education, and practical applications in maritime navigation and logistics.
If you are interested in learing how to use the WRT, the documentation is a good place to start!