Marine weather forecasting and offshore operability windows
Wave, current and wind forecasts turned into clear go or no-go windows for offshore work.
Marine weather forecasting for offshore operations goes beyond a general forecast. It takes wave, current and wind predictions for your site and compares them with the limits of your vessel and task. The NAVBathy forecast module presents the result as operability windows.
Forecast from Copernicus Marine data
For each activity and time step
Each with its own limits
Available in the NAVBathy console
What is an operability forecast?
A standard forecast gives significant wave height, wind speed and current. What an offshore team needs to know is whether a task can be done safely. That depends on the limits of the equipment, vessel and crew: a personnel transfer may need waves below a set height, a heavy lift may be limited by wind, and ROV launch and recovery by sea state and current.
An operability forecast applies those thresholds to the predicted conditions hour by hour and marks each period as go or no-go. Longer windows are shown as continuous blocks, so planners can see when a job of a given duration will fit.
The forecast uses open numerical wave, current and wind products, such as those from Copernicus Marine. These models are good at regional patterns but are coarser near coasts and can miss local squalls. Skill falls with lead time, so the first few days are the most reliable.
The forecast is a planning aid. The master, offshore manager and client make the final call using on-site observations and their own operating procedures.
How it works
Locate
Set the site or route to be forecast.
Set limits
Define the sea state, wind and current limits for each activity.
Forecast
Retrieve the latest wave, current and wind predictions.
Assess
Mark each time step as go or no-go against the limits.
Plan
Use the windows to schedule operations and set contingency.
What you receive
Forecast
a. Wave, current and wind time series
b. Map views for the region
Operability
a. Go or no-go windows by activity
b. Cumulative workable time summary
Where it is used
Hydrographic surveySchedule multibeam and AUV work in suitable sea states.
Personnel transferPick safe windows for crew change and access.
Heavy liftPlan lifts against wind and wave limits.
Diving and ROVTime launch and recovery for acceptable conditions.
Cable and pipe layIdentify workable periods for long operations.
Mobilisation planningAssess weather risk before committing vessels.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead is the forecast reliable?
The first two to three days are generally the most reliable. Beyond about a week the forecast shows trends rather than precise conditions.
Is it a replacement for a weather forecaster?
No. It supports planning, but formal offshore operations often also use a dedicated marine forecaster and on-board observations.
Can I set my own limits?
Yes. Limits for each activity are set from your own vessel and procedure data, since they vary between spreads.
Where does the data come from?
From open numerical models and satellite-assimilated products, including Copernicus Marine wave, current and wind data.
When can your offshore operation safely start?
Tell us your site and activity and we will set up an operability forecast.
