GRIB data can be accessed from several Web sites. Some are free access, some charge.
The sites that charge usually have more data types available wind, pressure, wave height, temperature etc.
Please note the web site URL’s may change!
| Supplier |
Coverage |
Free download |
Subscription service |
Comments |
| Global Marine Networks |
World wide |
Yes and email |
Not required |
Wind data only. Data is available in a compressed format bz2. You will need to download a decoder from their site.
Advantage of highly compressed data in bz2 format |
Norwegian Weather Center
|
Europe |
No |
Yes |
Very good data, Limited but expanding coverage. web site is in English or Norwegian |
Navcenter
|
World wide |
Yes |
Yes |
Limited data, but essentials are there. Has an automatic email subscription service.
Note:Make sure you download the zip version |
Meto France -French weather service
|
World wide |
No |
Yes |
One of the original suppliers. Web site is in French |
Météconsult
|
|
No |
Yes |
Wind only - Chargeable data, but flexible coverage - other none GRIB data on site - follow marine link |
| Raymarine Weather information |
World wide |
Yes |
Yes |
Data format is not always GRIB compliant. |
Important:
Euronav Ltd is not in anyway recommending or supplying any of the above services. Using any of the services is at your own risk and cost.
Please remember a forecast is just one possible prediction of the future weather pattern. Longer range forecasts will be considerably less reliable than short range forecasts. Some of the data is fairly 'broad stroke' and will not take into account local conditions.
Which one is best?
This all depends if you wish to pay, the cost of your communications, and the amount of detail and data types you need.
Free data:
seaPro Weather routing - for this you only need wind information, for worldwide coverage try Global Marine Networks (compressed files - shorter download)
The Navcenter offers worldwide coverage with extra data such as pressure (but consequently larger file size)
Purchased data
GRIB data from Meto France or the Norwegian weather service (Europe only) offer a more comprehensive service including sea temperatures, wave heights, currents, smaller cells sizes etc.
These data sets tend to cover the needs of commercial applications such as fishing.
To use the data you should:
Download the GRIB data from a weather site (above web sites)
Download the file to your seaPro grib file folder (typically C:\program files\euronav\seaPro2000\grib)
If the GRIB file has been zipped you will need to unzip it. - download a copy of the WinZip utility from any number of sites (this is usually shareware)
If bz2 you will also need to download a converter.
Note: In version 4.0 and above seaPro will automatically decompress the files for you
To use the file, open seaPro (if not already running), select "weather" and the "weather (GRIB) from the menu.This will then allow you to pick the GRIB file you wish to view.
|
