ANALYSIS OF THE OPERATING SOFTWARE USED FOR WEATHER ASSESSMENT ON BOARD OF THE SHIP

Nowadays, many computer agencies offers to the companies operating in the maritime field as ship owners, ship operators and charterers, various services related to the processing of meteorological information. However the use of competent meteorological advisory company did not relieves the master and navigating officers from responsibility concerning the safety of the ship, lives of crew members and condition of the cargo.

This paper discusses the companies, software and internet sites, which presents a great amount of meteorological information to the ship business. The obtained meteorological information can be used on board of the ship for: voyage planning by masters; planning the duration of the voyage and calculation of the fuel coast by ship owners; raising a claim by charterers concerning the insufficient speed of the vessel as agreed in charter party, or for any other calculation and predictions relating shipping.

Some of these services are free of charge while the others required regular payment. On board of the modern vessel, using new satellite technologies, it is a matter of minutes to obtain the required meteorological information.