Weathernews Inc. has launched “SeaNavigator for Master”, a next-generation, world-first support platform that uses AI-powered chat to assist captains in making operational decisions, enabled by recent advances in maritime communications.

This service features the world’s first commercial conversational AI Agent for captains, allowing them to ask AI for information directly relevant to voyage planning, such as weather risks along routes and at ports, as well as fuel consumption and speed forecasts, just as if they were speaking with a Weathernews expert. Captains can also view the latest high-resolution forecast in real time, including wave, wind and tropical cyclone track forecasts, which are among the most in-demand data sets. The Voyage Route Simulation feature allows captains to instantly search for optimal voyage routes onboard, based on wave height and historical routing track records. Whereas conventional communications have been limited to email and satellite phone, this service allows voyage plans to be smoothly reviewed and approved via chat between captains at sea and shore-based operations managers.

By sharing timely weather, marine, and operational data essential to decision-making through this onboard system, the service resolves the long-standing issue of information disparity between sea and shore. This enables captains to independently select more optimal routes using rich, up-to-date data sets. Going forward, Weathernews will leverage its experience supporting a cumulative total of one million voyages to further expand functionality and enhance the accuracy of the AI Agent and Voyage Route Simulation.