Wednesday 4 & Thursday 5 June 2024, 09:00 – 12:00 UTC
A Seminar Tailored for Merchant Marine Officers – Attended by Hundreds of Captains!
An essential training experience for every bridge officer.
This unique, comprehensive 6-hour webinar is designed specifically for Masters, Chief Officers, and Cadets, focusing on the practical application of meteorology and route planning at sea. Participants receive a complete training package including handouts, a dedicated workbook, and on-demand video lessons.
Topics covered include:
- Effective interpretation of official meteorological charts received on board
- Accurate reading and understanding of wave charts
- Forecasting weather and sea conditions using shipborne meteorological data
- Safe and economical route planning to mitigate the impact of adverse weather
- Optimizing the use of modern digital weather forecasting tools
- Evaluating and applying weather advisories during routing services
For individual registration, click here.
For corporate registration, click here.
This two-day webinar is designed for navigating officers, masters, cadets, and experienced offshore skippers seeking to enhance their meteorological knowledge and voyage planning skills.
Day 1 – Understanding and Applying Meteorological Charts
The first session is dedicated to the interpretation of official surface analysis charts (facsimile) and wave charts. Through a series of real-world examples and hands-on exercises, participants will not only learn how to decode and understand these charts but also how to apply them effectively in operational planning. Emphasis is placed on enhancing situational awareness, improving safety, and supporting confident decision-making in adverse weather conditions.
Day 2 – Weather Routing and Voyage Optimization
The second session introduces the principles of weather routing optimization, focusing on widely adopted methods used in the commercial shipping industry. Participants will be guided through the process of acquiring official meteorological data and GRIB files via Saildocs, as well as utilizing the Bon Voyage System (BVS) for optimal route planning. The objective is to reduce fuel consumption, minimize delays, and ensure voyage safety through informed meteorological decision-making.
Webinar Schedule and Content Overview
Day 1: 09:00 – 12:00 (UTC)
Meteorological Charts – Interpretation and Application
- Official Surface Analysis Charts
- Understanding isobars and associated wind patterns
- Identifying low-pressure system tracks and warning indicators
- Official Wave Forecast Charts
- Interpretation of significant wave height, swell, and wind wave data
- Understanding observed wave data and forecast validity
- Practical Exercises
- Applied practice using real charts
- Structured workbook exercises for hands-on learning
Day 2: 09:00 – 12:00 (UTC)
Weather Routing and Digital Tools
- Weather Routing Optimization
- Principles of route optimization
- Overview of commonly used methodologies and their benefits
- Weather Routing Optimization Software
- Saildocs Service
- Step-by-step guide on how to retrieve official weather charts and GRIB files via onboard email
Participation Fee
- Standard Fee: €250 per participant
- Early Registration Offer: €200 for registrations completed by 15 May 2025
The participation fee includes:
• Comprehensive handouts
• Access to video lessons covering key seminar topics
• Certificate of participation, issued upon completion of the webinar
Registrations
For individual registration, click here.
For corporate registration, click here.
The seminar will be conducted via Zoom. Upon confirmation of payment, participants will receive a personalized access link along with detailed instructions for logging in and attending the webinar.
This is an interactive course, designed to promote active engagement. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, take part in discussions, and work collaboratively on exercises involving meteorological charts and digital weather routing tools.
Instructor
The seminar will be led by Dr. Nikos Mazarakis, Professor of Marine Meteorology and a renowned expert in the field. Dr. Mazarakis serves as a visiting professor at Uninettuno University / Institute for International Maritime Studies, and is the General Office Manager of the Greek Office of StormGeo, a company within the Alfa Laval group. He also collaborates as a research associate at the National Observatory of Athens. Dr. Mazarakis has an extensive teaching background in Marine Meteorology, having trained over 6,000 deck officers since 2003 across more than five countries. His seminars have been delivered in some of the most prominent Greek shipping companies, including Danaos Shipping, Navios, Minerva Marine, and Costamare Inc. (Click here for a detailed list). He also served for seven years as a professor at the School of Training Merchant Marine Officers of Piraeus. In earlier stages of his career, he was active in Greek media, contributing to major newspapers, radio stations, and television channels. For his detailed CV, click here.