Minimal Time Ship Routing Using IRS-P4 (MSMR) Analyzed Wind Fields

Abstract

Minimal time ship routing is studied between Mumbai port (India) to Mombasa port (Kenya) using model hindcast wave climate over the Arabian Sea. With the launch of IRS-P4 (OCEANSAT-I), it became possible now to carry out routine wave hindcasting over the Indian Ocean. The MSMR channel of the satellite gives scalar wind, which is analyzed at NCMRWF, India, for converting to vector winds. The same is used as input to third-generation spectral wave model WAM for regional grid system for simulating the rough weather period of July 2000. This simulated wave climate formed the basis for computing effective ship velocity in the irregular seaway. This study gives a quantitative estimation of change in ship velocity in the open Indian Ocean for a bulk carrier. The minimal time path is charted using Dijkstra's algorithm for optimum route voyage. The optimum track information has broad scope for obtaining a safer route, least time route by avoiding delay in schedule with minimum fuel consumption.

Keywords:

• Ship routing
• WAM
• Dijkstra's algorithm

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Department Head, Department of Marine Science, Berhampur University, for extending support and encouragement for this work. This work is carried out by J. K. Panigrahi during the project IRS-P4 Utilization Program. The input data used are from the Space Application Center (ISRO); the WAM model is from Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (DRDO), India. The authors are grateful to the Director, NPOL, and Director, SAC, for providing the data and model.