Looking outside, it is often easy to conclude that the day will bring rain, based on the darkened skies and smell of moisture in the air. But what happens when someone is not located where they’re predicting the weather? Imagine being thousands of miles away and then tasked with forecasting for a global fleet of ships that are scattered across different time zones? Is it even possible?
For the team of meteorologists at Royal Caribbean Group, that’s the easy part.
Meteorologists rely on different tools to create forecasts – not hammers and wrenches, but scientific instruments, models, reports, data and their own years of experience. Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, and Marine Meteorologist, Peyton Collado, use these tools to provide forecasts to the global fleet at Royal Caribbean Group and assist the captains with making informed decisions during adverse weather conditions.
Tools of the Trade
With a massive global fleet across all brands, there are many moving parts to keep track of. So, what tools do the meteorologists at Royal Caribbean Group use to track the weather and keep ships and passengers safe?
The weather models Craig and Peyton use require continuous data input from weather stations worldwide. And while weather observations are plentiful over land, reporting stations are few and far between over the oceans. Satellites can make up for some of the lack of wind and wave reports at sea, but Royal Caribbean Group’s meteorologists must rely on education and experience to fill in what the models can’t predict. It’s this ability to see what the models don’t see that gives Royal Caribbean Group’s fleets a distinct advantage having its own in-house meteorologists.
Besides the computer weather models, Craig and Peyton use actual instruments to directly measure wind speed, wave heights and ocean currents. These variables can play an important safety role with ships near a dock or pier. At Royal Caribbean International’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, guests might see the yellow buoy in the water right off the beach, bobbing about. Craig and Peyton receive continuous data reports from the buoy about vital information concerning wave height, wave direction, even the length of the waves. Other data, such as wind and ocean current, are monitored and provided to meteorologists and ships. This information is crucial for ships when visiting CocoCay’s pier.
Like any other specialists, Royal Caribbean Group’s meteorologists don’t operate in a vacuum. Besides frequently presenting their findings and research to the global scientific community, they also maintain close relationships with other weather specialists such as those at the National Hurricane Center, NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center, even the World Meteorological Organization. These interactions in and outside of the maritime industry help keep Craig and Peyton at the forefront in their field, while keeping their skills and expertise on the cutting edge, with smooth sailing and happy guests.
Giving Ships Their Own Tools
On top of always being available to assist ships during weather threats, Craig and Peyton are also working on tools to make navigating away from severe weather easier on board. This gives captains and their officers some elbow room to make weather-based decisions in a short window of time.
As technology advances and more tools become available, the meteorologists at Royal Caribbean Group become even more prepared to predict and handle severe weather. Protecting guests and the ships across the brands are a top priority for Craig and Peyton, and they’re the best duo for the job.
