Parallel dynamic programming and ship voyage management

Abstract

SUMMARYThe paper is concerned with the design and implementation of a parallel dynamic programming algorithm for use in ship voyage management. The basic concepts are presented in terms of a simple model for weather routing. Other factors involved in voyage management, and their inclusion in a more comprehensive algorithm, are also discussed. The algorithms have been developed and implemented using a transputer-based distributed-memory parallel machine using the high-level communication harness CS Tools. 'Ikial calculations over grids of up to 282 nodes have been carried out and the results are presented. Good speed-ups for the calculations have been attained, and the factors affecting the efficiency of the parallel computations are reviewed. These trial calculations indicate that a ship voyage management system based on parallal dynamic programming is likely to be beneficial.