In 1960 Hanssen and James described to the Institute a system developed and used by the United States Hydrographic Office for selecting the optimum track for transoceanic crossings by applying long-range predictions of winds, waves and currents to a knowledge of how the routed vessel reacts to these variables. The paper (Journal, 13, 253) described how, over a period of two years, an average reduction in travel time of 14 hours was achieved over 1000 optimum routes.

In the present papers, presented at an Institute meeting held in London on 19 April, Captain Wepster of the Holland-America Line first of all goes into the benefits which effective ship routing offers the ship operator and then describes the results of the experimental routing programme undertaken by his Company in association with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Mr. Verploegh of that Institute then discusses the programme from the forecaster's point of view.