AI models that can learn how the physics of the ocean works

On 27 November 2023, the ESA Commercialisation Days: Transportation event will take place. Key actors from the transportation and space sectors will come together to develop new synergies. Read the story below from AlongRoute, one of the start-ups that will pitch during the event.

As the world moves towards cleaner and more sustainable practices, the shipping industry has come under increased scrutiny for its contribution to global emissions. In response, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set ambitious targets for the industry; net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. One of the main ways that shipping companies can reduce their emissions is by optimising their travel routes. The success of weather ship routing is dependent on the accuracy of the marine weather forecasts that are used for the calculation.

Unfortunately, existing numerical forecast models cannot appropriately predict the complex behaviour of the ocean. This is where AlongRoute comes in. AlongRoute is developing advanced AI models that can learn how the physics of the ocean works. This enables us to provide accurate forecasts of ocean parameters such as waves, currents, and surface winds. By using their forecasts as an input, existing weather ship routing systems can perform up to 1.3 times better than before. This can lead to a significant reduction in emissions. They expect to reduce cargo ship emissions by up to 50 million tons in just the first year of their market uptake!

How was the start-up founded?

In late 2021, OMIKRON Environmental Consultants SA (Greece) and Alisio Computing GmbH (Germany) joined forces to explore the potential of AI models to improve marine weather forecasts. This is for the maritime industry’s safety, financial and environmental impact.

The consortium successfully completed all phases of the DigiCirc Blue Economy Accelerator, securing funding of approximately €117k and developing the first MVP for the Mediterranean Sea. In late 2022, the start-up AlongRoute was officially established in Greece and has been primarily self-funded since then. Recently, they achieved significant milestones, including winning the 2nd prize and €10k at the DigiCirc Final Event Pitch Competition. They were awarded a €50k grant from the European Satellite Agency’s Business Incubator in Greece. And, in April 2023, another €50k grant from SynergistEIC Accelerator in September 2023.

What’s next?

First, AlongRoute aims to validate and calibrate their MVP for the Mediterranean Sea by incorporating feedback from early adopters and achieving a strong Market-Product Fit. This will ensure that their product meets the needs of the market in terms of accuracy and functionality. Simultaneously, they are actively seeking resources to scale up their product to cover the Global Oceans, where the demand and market interest lie. Their goal is to transition from the Mediterranean as a test area to the global stage as swiftly as possible. This will maximise both the environmental and societal impact, as well as the business opportunities.

In the short term, the company is focused on validating and calibrating parameters related to wave field, surface currents, and wind above the sea surface. Validating these parameters against measurements and continuously refining their AI system of models will improve accuracy.

Moving forward, the medium-term goals involve the gradual expansion of their MVP beyond the Mediterranean to cover other regions. This will allow to cater to a wider market and provide valuable insights to users globally. Ultimately, the long-term objective is to scale up the AI-forecasting system to encompass the entire global oceans, solidifying the company’s position as one of the leading providers of marine weather intelligence worldwide.