Weather intelligence and decision support solutions provider StormGeo on Monday (1 June) said the company is expanding its Voyage Intelligence platform by integrating sensor data from shipboard energy consumers to deliver real-time insights for enhanced technical performance under a partnership with its parent Alfa Laval.

The joint project marked a significant advance in digitalisation of shipboard equipment through automated collection of engine and hull data and integration into a wider digital ecosystem to give a clearer overview and better understanding of vessel performance.

StormGeo and Alfa Laval are combining their resources to provide hardware installation, data collection and analysis, performance advice and client support as part of a unique, all-inclusive delivery from a single company.  

StormGeo’s VP Shipping Petter Andersen, said: “The goal is to provide a comprehensive, integrated solution for shipping companies to simplify data collection and harvest more value by using actionable insights from sensor data to enable faster and better-informed voyage decision-making.”

Enhanced data-driven insight into vessel performance represents an enabler for operational efficiencies and fuel savings to boost sustainability through more effective decisions, with AI-driven analytics seen as a tool to support rather than replace human judgment to maintain the focus on safety as top priority.

“Ship operators need actionable insights, not just data. Continuous real-time monitoring helps transform sensor and performance data into smarter operational decisions,” Andersen said.

Alfa Laval, a supplier of ship equipment and specialist in real-time monitoring, is taking advantage of recent advances in onboard connectivity to apply its expertise in sensor data collection to shipping through the tie-up with StormGeo, a global provider of weather intelligence and smart digital solutions for voyage optimization.

Enhancing voyage efficiency is seen as the primary use case for sensor data in the short term, with the initial focus mainly on fuel consumption, according to Andersen.

Real-time data increases visibility of hull and main/auxiliary engine performance to inform proactive efficiency measures such as hull cleaning or engine tuning, while also providing a basis for long-term analysis and benchmarking at both individual ship and fleet level.

“The innovative element of this integration is that we are assimilating equipment sensor data with an array of datasets covering weather, route optimization, voyage planning and navigation, emissions reporting, and bunker planning and procurement accessible via a unified user interface. This gives a more holistic overview for operational decisions,” according to Andersen.

StormGeo is the sole contracting party for the integrated solution, while accessing resources and technology from Alfa Laval’s global network. The company now sees the opportunity for future application of sensor data to a wide range of operational, safety, commercial and environmental use cases in maritime, in partnership with third-party data providers.

In particular, Andersen highlighted the potential for automation of noon reporting based on streaming of fuel consumption data to replace time-consuming manual processes – such as email and fax – for meeting SOLAS and other reporting requirements. A further possible application is condition-based monitoring of equipment for proactive maintenance.

This is part of Alfa Laval’s broader strategy to expand sensor data collection across multiple ship systems to realize an Internet of Things (IoT) onboard as part of its cloud-based ALIoT platform, in line with the trend towards increased connectivity in shipping and smarter vessel operations.

Alfa Laval’s Head of Vessel Operations, Jesper Boman, said: “There’s a lot of potential to further digitalize, giving operators real-time insights that help them make better decisions, reduce risk, improve reliability, and avoid unnecessary costs.

“At the same time, implementing and using digital tools needs to be done with robust cybersecurity measures in place. Aligned with the international standards, to keep our maritime assets safe.”

Photo credit: StormGeo
Published: 2 June, 2026

Higher bunker prices. Trade route disruption. Soaring freight rates. 

The impact of the Middle East war on global shipping has again demonstrated how geopolitical shocks can drastically affect operational planning – and why navigating market volatility is essential to optimize the commercial efficiency of voyages, according to StormGeo on Thursday (28 May). 

“Operators have to expect the unexpected and be agile in their thinking,” said StormGeo’s Commercial Lead Routing Rolf Reksten.

“In an environment of fuel price fluctuations, freight market swings, operational disruption and rising emissions costs, voyage planning can no longer remain static.

“Operational decisions – from routing and speed to arrival timing – must increasingly respond to constantly changing economic conditions, in the same way that shipping must adapt to more extreme weather patterns caused by climate change,” he explained.

Accelerating cyclicality

Shipping markets have always experienced cycles, but these are becoming more frequent and volatile, driven by geopolitical effects, macroeconomic factors, energy market shifts, supply and demand, evolving regulation and critical stockpiles in key countries.

Optimization is no longer solely determined by speed and fuel efficiency, but by diverse factors that are reshaping voyage economics – and this makes operational decision-making more complex than ever.

“Rather than sailing smoothly from the Persian Gulf to India or China with crude, you may have to pick up the cargo from West Africa, Brazil or the US Gulf. Voyages are longer, the need for optimization is greater, and you have to relate execution much more to market volatility than before,” Reksten said.

The commercial outcome of a voyage is affected by the interplay of different economic variables – from fuel price volatility, rapidly moving freight markets and regulatory shifts that impact carbon costs to delays and trade disruption caused by port congestion, weather or regional conflict that can result in both direct costs and missed opportunities.

Fuel price effect

Given fuel is the largest cost variable of a voyage, bunker price hikes can significantly affect profitability without consideration of the wider commercial picture, and this requires a dynamic approach to decision-making to capture value across the voyage cycle.

Operators may lose value or increase risk if decisions are made without updated economic insight based on changing market conditions.

A case in point is the recent Strait of Hormuz crisis that fuelled higher tanker rates and a spike in bunker prices, which is estimated by lobby group Transport & Environment to have cost shipping companies an additional €340 million a day in fossil fuel bills.

Among the challenges for shipping companies are planning voyages without considering fuel price shifts, making speed decisions that do not account for port congestion or schedule changes, and having limited visibility into emissions cost exposure.

And this demands constant economic awareness with real-time data insights of the different variables to facilitate a shift from static to adaptive voyage planning to avoid leaving value on the table, according to Reksten.

‘Keeping an eye on markets’

“If you don’t have an eye on the markets and you’re purely focused on the route, this can undermine the commercial outcome of the voyage. You may need to reassess during the voyage whether to adjust speed, ETA or bunker strategy to execute in the most optimal way in relation to your commercial goals,” he said.

The need for a more dynamic approach to voyage planning is driving industry adoption of AI-driven voyage intelligence – integrating real-time data for ocean and weather conditions, vessel performance, market insights and emissions monitoring – to deliver predictive analytics supported by human expertise to inform adaptive decision-making, according to Reksten.

This enables operators to evaluate multiple scenarios and adapt according to changing conditions to safeguard voyage margins even in volatile markets, such as by capturing opportunities in a rising freight market.

“How you execute the current voyage can be tied to what your next employment will be. If the market is rising steeply, you want to sail as quickly as possible to discharge and offer your ship into the market at a higher price point,” Reksten explained.

Single source of truth

By combining operational, economic and sustainability data, voyage intelligence fully integrates commercial awareness into the planning process. Furthermore, it provides a single source of truth with visibility across company departments to allow better coordination between different teams, avoiding possible blind spots in decision-making.

“A typical voyage entails interaction between a lot of different moving parts – and this requires alignment of KPIs across commercial and operations teams that can be difficult in a fast-paced environment,” Reksten said.

Voyage intelligence allows decision-making to be informed by both operational expertise and evolving economic realities – such as metocean conditions, fuel prices, charter party requirements, freight market conditions, emissions and compliance obligations – to enable adaptive voyage management aligned with a shifting environment.

Managing uncertainty

This means shipping companies can manage uncertainty more effectively to provide better costs control in fluctuating fuel markets, freight market visibility, reduced risk of delays, improved schedule reliability, lower emissions and compliance risk – and stronger commercial margins.

“Profitability is the ultimate driver of decisions in shipping – and this is strongly impacted by market volatility. But companies able to quickly respond to changing conditions can turn volatility into competitive advantage,” Reksten concluded.

Photo credit: StormGeo
Published: 29 May, 2026

Marine fuel supplier Peninsula recently said it is taking measures to improve energy efficiency across its fleet to reduce bunker fuel use and support decarbonisation.

While alternative fuels will be central to long-term decarbonisation, the company said efficiency measures can deliver more immediate reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. 

“At Peninsula, ongoing work is focused on assessing a range of opportunities to improve the performance across our diverse fleet,” it said. 

This includes a structured programme to evaluate potential upgrades and operational improvements, rather than the implementation of a single set of solutions. A key focus is better measurement. Many older vessels lack the sensors required to track fuel consumption accurately, and work is underway with suppliers to improve visibility and data quality.

“Alongside this, we are exploring a range of technical and operational approaches. These include hull cleaning to reduce resistance, as well as the potential for oil purification systems, fuel injection improvements and LNG efficiency enhancements to support engine performance. For larger vessels, technologies such as rigid sails are also being assessed,” the company added. 

Voyage optimisation is another area of interest, with ongoing research into weather routing and planning tools aimed at reducing unnecessary vessel movements and waiting times. Depending on vessel type and operating conditions, such measures have the potential to deliver fuel savings in the range of 5–15%.

“There is no single solution when it comes to energy efficiency. Our approach is to assess a range of options and identify where they can make a practical difference across our operations,” said Maria Angeles Lopez, Peninsula’s Decarbonisation Manager.

Photo credit: Peninsula
Published: 18 May, 2026