Application of Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm in Ship Weather Routing

Abstract

Solving the problem of ship weather routing has been always a goal of nautical navigation research and has been investigated by many scientists. The operation schedule of an oceangoing ship can be influenced by wave or wind disturbances, which complicate route planning. In this paper, we present a real-coded genetic algorithm to determine the minimum voyage route time for point-to-point problems in a dynamic environment. A fitness assignment method based on an individual's position in the sorted population is presented, which greatly simplifies the calculation of fitness value. A hybrid mutation operator is proposed to enhance the search for the optimal solution and maintain population diversity. Multi-population techniques and an elite retention strategy are employed to increase population diversity and accelerate convergence rates. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated by numerical simulation experiments.

Extracting Maritime Traffic Networks from AIS Data Using Evolutionary Algorithm

“…A number of scholars have carried out empirical studies on naval routing and voyage planning. An optimal route can be defined as the blend of shortest time, minimal fuel consumption, and general safety of navigation (Wang et al 2018). Routing and path planning seem to be used interchangeably in the literature.…”

“…It was later extended by Bijlsma (2001). Wang et al (2018) point out that this method is not very useful for practical applications. One can also use dynamic programming, which treats the issue as a discrete multi-stage decision problem (Bellman 1952).…”

“…It was later used by a number of scholars for this problem (De Wit 1990;Calvert et al 1991;Shao et al 2012). Wang et al (2018) argue that this method has a high complexity combined with high accuracy. The Dijkstra algorithm finds the shortest path in a directed graph and it was applied in a number of weather routing research papers (Mannarini et al 2016;Montes 2005;Panigrahi et al 2012;Sen and Padhy 2010).…”

“…The construction of the network -preceded by waypoints detection, route detection, and route decomposition -relies on the Douglas-Pecker algorithm for breakpoints detection (these will serve as nodes) along with a custom algorithm for creating traffic lanes (edges). Wang et al (2018) proposed to use a genetic algorithm in the weather routing research. Indeed, swarm and evolutionary algorithms can solve maritime routing and planning related problems.…”

Ship Speed Optimization Considering Ocean Currents to Enhance Environmental Sustainability in Maritime Shipping

“…When V w is greater than the critical STW, the ship must be slowed down, which is known as the voluntary speed reduction. In this paper, the following equations are used to calculate the critical STW [50,51]:…”