Norway's StormGeo Buys U.S. Marine Weather Routing Firm AWT

StormGeo CEO Kent Zehetner said the combined company will develop new products

StormGeo, a Norwegian provider of weather analysis systems for offshore, shipping, and other industries, says it has acquired U.S.-based Applied Weather Technology (AWT).

"By combining our expertise with that of AWT, StormGeo is positioned to be a worldwide leader in services to the maritime and offshore industries," said StormGeo Chairman Erik Langaker.

The expanded company now covers 14 countries with 22 offices and more than 320 employees.

"We are delighted to partner with a company that shares our commitment to quality and product development," said StormGeo CEO Kent Zehetner.

"Together, we will develop new offerings that further enhance the value we bring to our clients."

AWT CEO Haydn Jones will retain his position and also become global head of the shipping business line for the combined company.

Zehetner said there was growing demand for weather analysis and voyage optimisation, particularly as new emissions regulations take effect and ship operators look to reduce bunker consumption.

"We believe that our ability to combine global real-time weather data with continuous harvesting of transport and movement data from thousands of ships across the globe, will enable StormGeo to give each ship and all fleet operators a unique understanding of how they can efficiently navigate the globe, whilst at the same time securing maximum safety and sound operational economics," he said.

GeoStorm is majority-owned by Nordic private equity firm Reiten & Co., which holds a 54.9 percent stake in the company, while class society DNV GL owns a 24 percent share.

AWT, maker of the Bon Voyage System for route management, appointed Jones as CEO in September.