Weather-Based Ship Route Planning by Considering Added Resistance for Improving Fuel Efficiency

Abstract Maritime authorities are advancing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution by regulating fuels and lubricants. Enhancing ship operational efficiency is a key strategy for reducing fuel consumption and maintaining competitiveness in the maritime industry. This study addresses environmental concerns through route optimization based on fuel efficiency by incorporating weather conditions. The proposed model assesses ship resistance influenced by current, waves, and wind, integrating these factors to identify the most fuel-efficient routes. This study focuses on the implementation of weather routing in the eastern waters of Indonesia, with a case study involving ships navigating through adverse weather conditions. The research demonstrates that under bad weather, the potential increase in resistance can reach up to 18%, depending on the specific conditions. Additionally, the study proves that route optimization provides effective route recommendations based on the total resistance probability encountered. Modified Djikstra algorithm, reduced total resistance from 9.1 kN to 7.4 kN, reflecting a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency. By ranking routes based on minimized fuel consumption, the study provides a practical approach to achieving higher fuel efficiency and contributing to more sustainable maritime operations.