Our advice for true weather optimization is to only supply a departure (start) and destination (end) point for best optimization results. If only the departure (start) and destination (end) is provided, the algorithm will fully optimize the route.
Provide accurate beam, LOA, and draft measurements of the vessel
For safe and correct navigation output, it’s important to provide accurate beam, LOA, and draft measurements of the vessel.
All information and possible restrictions can be found in the documentation under ‘Restrictions’
For example: Panama Canal
The Panama Canal has not restricted vessel types/classes. The Panama Canal has set ‘length over all’, ‘beam’ and ‘draft’ restrictions.In case a value is specified larger than the Canal limits, the routing algorithm will choose a route not through the Panama Canal.
Setting Weather Limits
For proper output results related to routing, it’s important to set weather limits. These can be set by default and also updated per request.In the API you can request the full set weather limits.
Limits can be set on ‘warn’ or ‘default’.
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- Warn limit = route result will be calculated in our system even though limits are exceeded. Warnings will be mentioned in output result
- Avoid limit = route result will not be calculated if a limit is exceeded
From our experience, you can set the following standards as default if not known.
- Distance to hurricanes 300NM
- Distance to tropical storm 200NM
- Distance to tropical depression 150NM
- Wind 30 knts (BFT 7)
- Waves 4m
Setting Area Restrictions
Where desired, make sure area restrictions are set. These can be set by default and also updated per request.
In the API documentation you can find all information (and the full set of areas) here.
Make sure that the “conditionalAreas“ are set within the “restrictions“ when providing a route request towards DTN. With the “conditionalAreas” you can for example control if specific high risk (piracy) areas need to be avoided. This custom area has to go in an array under restrictions.conditionalAreas.customAreas. But think also of ECA, speed restriction areas, whale areas etc.
The types of optimizations, input and outcomes
Click here to download more information on optimizing inputs and outcomes.