Meet Jacquelyn O'Brien, Routing Specialist

Jacquelyn “Jackie” O'Brien has built her career in maritime weather routing. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Science from the University at Albany, she spent two years as a Senior Meteorologist at WRI, providing routing guidance to vessels in the maritime industry.

Since joining Sofar Ocean as a Routing Specialist in 2026, Jackie has helped deliver reliable, safety-first routing guidance through Wayfinder while contributing to its ongoing development, pairing her meteorology background with Sofar’s real-time ocean data.

Why Sofar Ocean?

I have worked exclusively in the maritime industry during my postgraduate career, and I have come across many different routing companies in that time. Sofar’s mission immediately stood out to me because they are advancing ocean intelligence by collecting real-time data from their own equipment. When I joined the team this year, I was extremely excited to be able to take part in this mission and to aid in the development of Wayfinder while producing reliable routing information. We are always finding ways to innovate and advance ocean technology, and I am very proud to be part of a talented team that is hardworking and dedicated to this mission.

What's the most rewarding aspect of your job?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is being able to provide safe, reliable, and economically beneficial routing advice to vessels all over the world. I have always wanted to make a difference with the work that I do, and it’s great seeing my routing advice implemented in a vessel’s plan while also being able to observe real-time meteorological data worldwide.

When conditions are changing quickly, what factors matter most when deciding the best route?

Our number one priority will always be the safe navigation of the vessel and crew through any type of condition. The key to accomplishing this is being able to effectively anticipate, plan, and communicate the situation to the vessel and our shoreside partners. With each guidance assessment, especially through heavy weather, we are always looking ahead and considering alternate routing options that keep the vessel safe and within its capabilities. The routing team also relies heavily on each other to gather several different opinions in critical situations, providing the vessel with the best possible guidance.

What are some of the biggest challenges vessels face when planning and executing voyages today, and how can routing help address them?

One of the biggest challenges a vessel can face is forecast uncertainty. While our internal models predict how a vessel will perform, the constantly changing weather conditions in the mid to long range and the efficiency of the vessel on a day-to-day basis also affect its overall performance. This makes it difficult to lock in a single “optimal” route at the start of a voyage and simply stick with it for the duration.

Daily guidance addresses this by treating the route as something that evolves. As the forecast and confidence increase, we provide daily guidance that analyzes all external factors and constraints, rather than a single recommendation at the start. This ongoing monitoring helps the vessel maintain time, distance, and economic efficiency while reducing exposure to weather it couldn’t have anticipated on day one. It also gives both the crew and shoreside teams the updated information they need to make informed decisions as conditions change.

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