Holland America Line topped the list in 2014 for the World’s Leading Weather Observing Cruise Ship Companies who submitted weather information to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Holland America Line fleet of 15 ships sent in a combined total of 22,281 observations during the year, landing them at number one. Holland America Line also was at the top of the list in 2008 and 2006.
Among individual cruise ships that sent in information, ms Oosterdam lead the Holland America Line fleet with 2,858 observations. ms Zaandam, ms Volendam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Amsterdam also were listed among the top 10 of all individual cruise ship observations.
“Our ships travel oceans all over the world through all types of weather, and it’s an honor to help support a process that affects hundreds of millions of people globally,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “With our ships face to face with the weather patterns and conditions that can help meteorologists predict global forecasts, we feel that it’s our duty to report our findings.”
Despite the presence of weather satellites and many ground stations, regular weather reports from ships are still of great value to meteorological and hydrological services around the world preparing daily weather predictions. These weather reports also provide important climatological data to the World Weather Information Service of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).