〆True North Marine provides weather routing services to optimize shipping routes for maritime companies.
True North Marine (TNM, headquarters: Montreal, Canada) is a rapidly growing full-service weather routing company in the maritime industry. With offices in Canada, Greece, India, and Shanghai, the company employs over 50 people. TNM provides services to 800-1000 vessels at any given time. We interviewed Scott Middleton, Director of Sales, who visited Japan, about the current state of the company.
(Text by Hirofumi Yamamoto)
■Utilizing AI
―Could you start by giving us an overview of TNM, including the year it was established and the number of employees?
“TNM was established in 2013 by President, Brian Hatter and Capt. Gurjeet Warya. Brian Hatter has extensive senior-level experience in the weather routing industry, and Gurjeet Warya, after gaining experience as a tanker captain, obtained an MBA in Canada.”
“TNM was founded with the aim of providing customer-centric, value-driven services to the maritime industry, with a primary focus on the safe operation of vessels. I joined TNM as the Director of Sales at the beginning of this year, supporting global growth. I have over 20 years of experience in the fields of navigation and technology and have lived in Japan. In my previous role, I supported many Japanese maritime companies.”
―Could you give us an overview of the services that TNM provides?**
“Our company offers a wide range of services for vessels, including weather routing, performance monitoring, post-voyage analysis, speed and consumption claim consulting and more. Newly introduced services include the award-winning AI-based voyage optimization ‘Optinav’ and emissions solutions certified by Verifavia, covering CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator), IMO-DCS (International Maritime Organization’s Data Collection System), EU-ETS (European Union Emissions Trading System), EU-MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of CO2 emissions for voyages related to the EU), and UK-MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of CO2 emissions for voyages related to the UK).”
■Analyzing ROI
―In the maritime industry, reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, improving fuel efficiency, and the importance of CII ratings are becoming increasingly important. How can TNM address these maritime challenges?
“Each voyage varies depending on the vessel and the journey. Operators face more complex challenges than before and need to plan voyages in an uncertain world. TNM’s latest AI-based service, Optinav, provides customized plans that allow operators to compare multiple scenarios based on specific voyage goals.”
“Operators can assess all necessary information before the vessel departs and determine the optimal goals for a specific voyage, including total cost and CII rating. TNM supports captains with these goals during the voyage and can provide a return on investment (ROI) analysis to demonstrate the value of the service after the vessel arrives. Optinav enables balancing environmental goals and profitability for each voyage, ensuring certainty in planning while maintaining the highest levels of safety.”
―What activities does TNM plan to undertake in the Japanese market in the future?
“Japan is a relatively new market for TNM. During my recent trip, I felt a growing interest in TNM and Optinav AI. As industry challenges become more complex, maritime companies are eager to explore and adopt new technologies that offer risk mitigation, environmental benefits, and competitive advantages. TNM aims to strengthen relationships with Japanese shipowners and operators. We welcome companies interested in goal-based voyage optimization using Optinav AI to contact us and collaborate.”