Ship routing utilizing strong ocean currents
Authors
Chang, Yu-Chia
Chen, Guan-Yu
Tseng, Ruo-Shan
Shen, Yung-Ting
Chu, Peter C.
Subjects
SVP drifter, Kuroshio, Energy-saving, Route
Advisors
Date of Issue
2013
Date
2013
Publisher
Language
Abstract
From the Surface Velocity Program (SVP) drifter current data, a detailed and complete
track of strong ocean currents in the north-western Pacific is provided using the bin average
method. The focus of this study is on the Kuroshio, the strong western boundary current of
the North Pacific flowing northward along the east coast of Taiwan and then turning
eastward off southern Japan. With its average flow speed of about 2 knots, the Kuroshio can
significantly increase the ship’s speed for a “super-slow-steaming” container ship travelling at
speeds of 12 knots between the ports of Southeast Asia and Japan. By properly utilizing
knowledge of strong ocean currents to follow the Kuroshio on the northbound runs and avoid
it on the return trip, considerable fuel can be saved and the transit time can be reduced. In the
future, the detailed Kuroshio saving-energy route could be built into electronic chart systems
for all navigators and shipping routers.
Type
Article
Description
Journal of Navigation, 60
The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0373463313000441
The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0373463313000441
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Chang, Y.-C., R.-S. Tseng, G.-Y. Chen, P. C. Chu, and Y.-T. Shen, 2013: Ship routing utilizing strong ocean currents (paper download). Journal of Navigation, 60, doi:10.1017/ S0373463313000441.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.