Voyage optimisation

Same voyage, two plans

What happens to your voyage earnings (TCE) when the plan keeps up with the market

Get a free voyage replayCompare the two plans

On a spot voyage, the freight rate sets the ceiling. How much of it becomes TCE depends on a few speed and timing calls. Most plans make those calls once, on departure day. The market keeps moving after that.

Four things that move after departure

Market rate
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Bunker cost
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Port terms
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Weather
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Why it moves

A firming market can make time worth more than fuel. A softening one flips the answer.

In a plan that keeps up

The ETA is rechecked as the rate moves, so speed follows the value of time rather than the mood on departure day.

Why it moves

While fuel is expensive, every extra knot has to earn its place.

In a plan that keeps up

Bunker prices update through the voyage and sit in the same calculation as speed.

Why it moves

Laycan, notice of readiness and demurrage decide whether an early arrival pays.

In a plan that keeps up

Port terms live inside the plan, so arriving early is only chosen when it is worth something.

Why it moves

Beyond the seven-day forecast, seasonal risk matters as much as seasonal averages.

In a plan that keeps up

Wind, swell and current are modelled for this vessel, with seasonal risk considered past the forecast window.

Side by side

One voyage, two ways to plan it

Switch between the plans to see how each input is handled.

Plan A · Fixed at departure
Plan B · Keeps up
Starting point
ETA set once, from the laycan or the target market
Speed
Full speed if the market looks hot
Bunker cost
Taken from the price on departure day
Weather
Speed and consumption table
Weather risk
Planned to the edge of the 7-day forecast
Port terms
Handled separately by the operator
Re-planning
When someone notices a change
Who reconciles it all
The operator, across teams and tools
Result
TCE set by departure-day assumptions
Starting point
ETA rechecked as the market moves
You get: Arrive when the cargo is worth most
Speed
Value of time weighed against bunker cost for the whole voyage
You get: No knots bought that cost more than they earn
Bunker cost
Updated as prices change, in the same calculation as speed
You get: Fuel bill reflects today’s price, not departure day’s
Weather
Wind, swell and current modelled for this vessel
You get: Realistic ETAs for this hull, not a table average
Weather risk
Seasonal weather risk considered beyond it
You get: Fewer late arrivals from weather beyond the forecast
Port terms
Laycan, notice of readiness and demurrage in the same plan
You get: No early arrival that only buys waiting time
Re-planning
Regularly through the voyage, as new forecasts and prices arrive
You get: Every rate or price move becomes a speed decision
Who reconciles it all
The plan, so the operator and master can focus on the call
You get: Operator time spent on judgement, not reconciliation
Result
TCE defended all the way to arrival, with fuel spent only where it pays
Get a free voyage replay
“

The trade-off between time and bunker cost needs to be worked out constantly, throughout the voyage. That’s how you get the best possible execution of your P&L.

Bjørn Ørving, VP Growth Strategy, ZeroNorth

See it on one of your own voyages

Replay a voyage to see the difference

01

Pick a voyage

One of your recent VLCC voyages, already sailed.

02

Rewind to departure

Only the forecast, market rate, bunker prices and constraints available that day.

03

Plan once

No re-optimising along the way, so the comparison stays fair.

04

Score it

Played out against the weather that actually happened, next to the voyage as sailed.

What you get back

  • The replayed plan next to the voyage as sailed, leg by leg
  • Where the two diverged, and which input drove it
  • The difference in time and fuel on each leg
  • Every result, including any legs that come back negative, and why
  • A walk-through of the method with your team

What we need from you

IMO numberVoyage datesMarket or hire rateBunker pricesCharter party terms & laycan

See it on one of your own voyages

Send us one of your recent voyages. We'll replay it with only what you knew on departure day and walk your team through the results.