Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program

Results are in for the (10th annual) VSR Season of Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies! Highlights of the environmental impact of the 2024 Season (and what happens when?*743 vessels* travel a total of 425,981 nautical miles at "whale-safer" reduced speeds of 10 knots or less): ?? ?50.1% lower strike mortality risk to #whales; ?? Underwater #noise reduced by 38% (or 4.1 decibels); ?? 1,405 tons of (smog-forming) NOx emissions avoided, the equivalent of taking 900,000 cars off the road for a year; and ?? 49,945 metric tons of regional greenhouse gas #emissions avoided (27% reductions from baseline). *Thank you* to our participating #shipping lines for their leadership in helping to protect endangered whales and coastal #airquality,?and to our program ambassadors who ship with these lines and help grow awareness around supply chain opportunities to protect #biodiversity and coastal communities. ?? ?https://lnkd.in/dfczT5bg Season information, including links to full research reports: https://lnkd.in/gQ_265Kc ?? 2024 Sapphire Lines: CMA CGM; Connaught Shipmanagement HK; COSCO SHIPPING (North America) Inc. Shipping; The CSL Group Inc. Americas; Hong Kong Top Honor Shipping; ISM Ship Management Ltd; A.P. Moller - Maersk; Marathon Petroleum; MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company; NYK Line; Ocean Network Express North America; OOCL; Overseas Shipholding Group; Pilion Navigation; ConocoPhillips - Polar Tankers; Starbulk SA; STX Marine Service; Swire Shipping; Teo Shipping Corporation; Tomini Transports LLC; Toyofuji; Wallenius Wilhelmsen; and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. ?? ? ?? 2024?Gold lines: Campbell Shipping Company; d’Amico Shipping Group; Dockendale Ship Management FZCO; Empire Bulker Ltd.; EVERGREEN LINE; Hapag-Lloyd AG; HMC Shipmanagement Co Ltd; Hyundai Glovis; "K" line (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd); Mol ACE; Pacific Basin Shipping Limited; Raffles Shipmanagement Services; Scorpio Group; Temm Maritime Co Ltd; Unisea Shipping Ltd; Venture Shipping Ltd; Veritas Shipmanagement Ltd.; and WAN HAI. Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District Bay Area Air District Monterey Bay Air Resources District San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District California Marine Sanctuary Foundation Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory Scripps Institution of Oceanography Point Blue Conservation Science Starcrest Consulting Group, LLC ( ?? credit: Adam Ernster Wildlife)

https://lnkd.in/g-BkfHUh ?? Link above to the latest Blue Whales and Blue Skies newsletter, which includes: > Reflections on the program's *10th season*, which marked the highest cooperation levels since inception in 2014 and 49 participating shipping lines (see here for which companies participated and award tiers: https://lnkd.in/gQ_265Kc); > A special thank you to COSCO SHIPPING (North America) Inc. Hapag-Lloyd AG and A.P. Moller - Maersk for being participating companies since the very beginning, and to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company for its notable leadership - achieving sapphire-level cooperation seven seasons in a row; > A recap of the program's coverage in major news outlets and news on how the program's air district partners have been uniquely able to secure funding that makes the program possible; > Recognition of new ambassadors, including Eggboards and Brighten Solar Co.; and > Updates on where to see Adam Ernster 's short film Battle of the Blues, featuring the program, and the history of endangered #bluewhales in the Santa Barbara Channel. ?? Stay in touch by signing up for our newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gyv-bJsm

Friends in the Ventura area, I’ll be giving a talk at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center on March 6, where I’ll present our latest findings on human-wildlife interactions in the Channel Islands and Santa Barbara Channel and the solutions we’re exploring to protect marine species in this important region! ?? ?? Event details: https://lnkd.in/g8CwMK-9 Scripps Institution of Oceanography Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program California Marine Sanctuary Foundation National Park Service

?? "Here in California, we live adjacent to a marine biodiversity hotspot, with endangered blue, humpback, and fin #whales stopping to feed for an extended season during their annual migrations up and down the Pacific Coast." ?? "We also live in one of the epicenters of international trade, with ~40% of imports entering the U.S. via California ports, and over the past two decades the volume of cargo moved by ships in the region and around the globe has more than doubled." ?? "From the first year in 2014, when the team was pleasantly surprised to see 27 ships from seven different #shipping lines participate across a limited area in the Santa Barbara Channel, the 2024 season now represents tremendous growth and progress." ?? https://lnkd.in/gay5neP8

Results are in for the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program (BWBS) 2024 VSR Season:?BWBS verified that 743 vessels, across 49 of the world’s largest shipping lines, opted-in to reduce speeds to reduce the?risk of fatal strikes by 50% or more. The 2024 Season – the program’s 10-year anniversary – was the most significant yet, marking a jump in total participating shipping lines – from 33 to 49 – and an increase in distance traveled at “whale-safer” speeds. Read about which lines are participating, how they are ranked, as well as?some reflections on a decade of collaboration for safer whales, cleaner air, and a quieter ocean. [Sponsored] https://lnkd.in/ei3N9-T8

2024 VSR Season Cooperation Results are Out! Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies is extremely proud to recognize leadership in the #maritime community and our shipping line participants' achievements in working towards safer whales, cleaner air, and a quieter ocean. A few 2024 season highlights: > BWBS verified that 743 vessels, across 49 of the world’s largest #shipping lines, opted in to voluntarily travel at "whale-safer" (10 knots or less) speeds in VSR zones. > Program-wide, 85% of the total distance traveled by participating vessels – equating to 425,981 nautical miles – was traveled at the requested whale-safer speeds. > Out of all of the traffic traveling within the VSR zones, 78% of all container ships and 97% of all auto/RORO ships elected to participate. > The season marked BWBS’ 10-year anniversary, and the most significant cooperation rates yet, with a jump in total participating shipping lines – from 33 to 49. > Shipping lines qualifying for the ? top award tier (“Sapphire”) almost doubled from the prior season, from 13 to 23. They include: CMA CGM; Connaught Shipmanagement HK; COSCO SHIPPING (North America) Inc.; The CSL Group Inc.; Hong Kong Top Honor Shipping; ISM Ship Management Ltd; A.P. Moller - Maersk; Marathon Petroleum; MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company; NYK Line Ro-Ro; Ocean Network Express North America; OOCL; Overseas Shipholding Group; Pilion Navigation; ConocoPhillips – Polar Tankers; Starbulk SA; STX Marine Service; Swire Shipping; Teo Shipping Corporation; Tomini Transports LLC; Toyofuji; Wallenius Wilhelmsen; and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. - Thank you for your outstanding performance! ?? Read more here: ?? https://lnkd.in/gC5A9AnF for detailed results as well as reflections from across the partnership on a decade of Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies.? ?? ??? ?? These accomplishments wouldn't be possible without the commitment of our participating shipping companies, ambassadors, and partners. BWBS is a collaborative partnership among federal and local government agencies, foundations, and environmental nonprofits, including the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Bay Area Air District; Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District; Ventura County Air Pollution Control District; San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District; Monterey Bay Air Resources District; Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Greater Farallones, and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; and Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory. ?? : Adam Ernster Dustin Harris Ralph Clevenger

Happy World Whale Day! ?? California’s coastal waters are a vital feeding ground for endangered blue, fin, and humpback whales. These rich ecosystems support incredible biodiversity, but they’re also home to some of the busiest shipping routes in the U.S. In places like the Santa Barbara Channel and near the San Francisco Bay, whales and ships share the same waters—putting these magnificent animals at risk of deadly collisions. ????? At the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, we're actively addressing this challenge through our innovative Whale Safe system. This technology-driven platform combines ocean sensors, predictive models, community science, and ship tracking data to provide mariners with real-time information on whale presence in critical shipping areas. By promoting adherence to Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) zones—designated areas where ships are encouraged to slow down—we aim to mitigate the risk of fatal collisions. ?? To celebrate today, we’re looking back at the 2024 Whale Safe season—from whale sightings to vessel speed cooperation that helps protect these ocean giants. Check out our blog for the full recap: https://lnkd.in/g9PsT23S

It’s #WorldWhaleDay - a day to celebrate ?? & raise awareness about risks they face. Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program was formed over a decade ago in part to address one of the top threats to whales— ship strikes. Ship strikes are a major contributor of mortality to whales around the globe, and especially a concern in whale hotspots that overlap with major international shipping routes. But, when vessels reduce their speeds to “whale-safer” 10 knots or less, the risk of a fatal strike is reduced by *50% or more*. This #WorldWhaleDay, BWBS wanted to express our appreciation to shipping lines leading the way by voluntarily traveling at whale-safer speeds (that also reduces emissions, air pollution and underwater noise) in hotspots off the California coast, and to our ambassadors who ship with these lines and grow awareness around supply chain opportunities to protect biodiversity and air quality. ?? A special thank you to our 2024 top performing ("Sapphire") #shipping lines: CMA CGM; Connaught Shipmanagement HK; COSCO SHIPPING (North America) Inc.; The CSL Group Inc. Americas; Hong Kong Top Honor Shipping; ISM Ship Management Ltd; A.P. Moller - Maersk; Marathon Petroleum Corporation; MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company; NYK Line Ro-Ro; Ocean Network Express North America; OOCL; Overseas Shipholding Group; Pilion Navigation; ConocoPhillips - Polar Tankers; Starbulk SA; STX Marine Service Co; Swire Shipping; Teo Shipping Corporation; Tomini Transports LLC; Toyofuji; Wallenius Wilhelmsen; and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. ? JAS Worldwide, The Block Logistics Eggboards, Sonos, Inc., Limoneira Company, Who Gives A Crap, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Business & Pleasure Co. , Summit Coffee, Brighten Solar Co., Peak Design, Nomad Port of Hueneme Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gfy3HdEi Photo credits: Ralph Clevenger

?”In the SB Channel, we're so fortunate— we have one of the world's largest concentrations of #bluewhale populations— and we also have some of the busiest shipping lanes on the planet." Learn more about how Blue Whales and Blue Skies helps balance maritime commerce with marine life and coastal community protection; how #shipping lines can participate; see environmental impact results; and ambassador opportunities for: brands, freight forwarders and #logistics companies and other entities that import or export via California ports at bluewhalesblueskies.org. ??: Thank you to Adam Ernster Wildlife for putting together this clip! #maritimetrade #conservation #endangeredspecies #whales

“Ocean-going vessels contribute a large portion of the smog-forming NOx emissions affecting coastal California communities, including Ventura County... The voluntary Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program is a critical component of our #airpollution emissions reduction strategy since ocean-going vessels are outside local air district regulatory authority. This partnership of air districts, marine sanctuaries, nonprofit organizations, shipping companies and ambassador companies is a great example of the amazing environmental benefits that are possible if we work together.” - Tyler Harris Sharing some exciting news (and a bit of context) coming from one of our partners— Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD): > VCAPCD?has led the way in securing funding through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Policy. CARB is the lead agency for #climatechange programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts. Their SEP Policy allows entities running afoul of their air quality regulations to direct some of the penalties paid?to?community-based projects. > In this case, Blue Whales and Blue Skies received more than $2 million, yielding net reductions in air pollutants that help the air districts work toward their air quality improvement goals. ? Context: By slowing down to 10 knots, cargo, tanker and bulk ship operators reduce air pollution and regional GHG emissions. In the 2023 season alone, the program resulted in an estimated reduction of 1,256 tons of NOx, 30.3 tons of SOx, 6.3 tons of diesel particulate matter, and 45,784 metric tons of GHGs. These reductions correspond to an approximate decrease of 26% in NOx, SOx, and GHGs from baseline conditions. NOx, a key contributor to #ozone, is a significant issue for many California coastal communities, especially those overburdened by ports, high traffic, and industrial infrastructure. For this reason, VCAPCD, Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control Districts, Bay Area Air District, and Monterey Bay Air Resources District are critical partners in the program, working to incentivize the majority of containerized cargo ship operators to slow down during peak ozone season.? More information here: https://lnkd.in/g__EMHJf ?? to CARBs press release in comments