Meteorology · Weather Routing — Least-Time Track
Ship weather routing seeks to recommend a track that:
- AMaximizes exposure to storms for speed
- BAlways follows the great-circle regardless of weather
- CIgnores sea state entirely
- DOptimizes the voyage (often least time or least risk) by considering forecast winds, seas, and currents against the ship's performance✓ Correct
Explanation
Optimum ship routing uses forecast and climatological winds, waves, currents, and ice, combined with the vessel's speed/seakeeping characteristics, to recommend a track that minimizes time, fuel, motions, or damage risk — frequently a least-time track that diverts around heavy weather rather than the shortest geometric path.
Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9), Ship Routing
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