-
StormGeo, provider of weather intelligence and decision-support solutions for the shipping industry, has opened an operations center in Manila
-
The development is part of the company’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific
-
The new operations center will focus on providing professional route advisory services 24/7 and allow StormGeo to create new business opportunities in the region
-
Michael Krch has been appointed APAC operations manager
-
In 2022, StormGeo provided route optimization services to its customers for 71,000 voyages
StormGeo, provider of weather intelligence and decision-support solutions for the shipping industry, recently opened an operations center in Manila.
The expansion in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) will enhance the company’s long-term collaboration with and close commitment to customers in this region, StormGeo said in a statement.
“The launch of our Manila office emphasizes our commitment to the APAC region. The increasing digitalization of voyage optimization holds tremendous benefits for the shipping industry, while human engagement is still necessary for countless decisions,” said Petty Leung, StormGeo executive director of shipping services.
“I am especially pleased that our extensive maritime expertise in Asian time zones enhances our ability to meet our customers’ needs and foster closer relationships with all our customers, partners, and stakeholders in Asia Pacific.”
StormGeo said the Philippines is a logical choice for it to establish the operation center since more than 90% of trade in the country is moved by sea, making the shipping sector a noteworthy local business.
The new APAC operations center will focus on providing professional route advisory services 24/7, as well as allowing StormGeo to create new business opportunities in the region.
The office expands StormGeo’s network of locations in APAC to seven, including offices in key cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Taiwan, Tokyo, and Seoul.
As part of the expansion, Michael Krch has been appointed APAC operations manager who will lead the company’s efforts in servicing its growing customer base across Asia.
Krch has more than 20 years of experience in meteorological operations, including maritime transport risk management and route analysis. He joined StormGeo as a route analyst supervisor in 2008 and has led the weather route analyst team to provide analytical support to a fleet of over 5,000 commercial vessels.
“The decision to establish the new operations center in Asia-Pacific supports our growth plan,” Krch said.
“We’ve been active in this region for 25 years and are excited to be formally establishing an operations center in the Philippines,” he added.
In 2022, StormGeo provided route optimization services to its customers for 71,000 voyages.
The company said this equates to saving 488,125 metric tons of fuel and the removal of 1.4 million MT of carbon dioxide and more than 24,000 MT of sulfur oxides from the atmosphere and ocean.
StormGeo said it has pushed the evolution of voyage optimization even further by offering a novel way to optimize fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without compromising arrival windows. This method, called Strategic Power Routing, effectively makes weather routing a vital component of any decarbonization effort.
