BIMCO has informed on mandatory and voluntary measures to protect whales from collisions with ships, in place from 1 May for parts of the ocean.
May marks key events in the migration and breeding cycles of many whale species. In areas such as California, Canada and Brazil, May also sees the introduction of mandatory and voluntary measures to reduce the risk of whale-ship collisions.
California Coast
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a voluntary 10-knot Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) request from 1 May off the coast of California.
The goals of these voluntary VSR zones are to reduce the risk of fatal ship strikes to endangered and threatened blue, fin, and humpback whales, reduce ocean noise, and protect public health along the California coast.
BIMCO warns that that any unauthorized take of whales, even if unintentional, by vessels transiting in U.S. waters violates federal statutes.
The voluntary VSR request will be in effect from 1 May to 31 December 2025.
Furthermore, it is noted that the southern California VSR zone has been expanded to include the newly designated Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and the VSR period is the same for both VSR zones due to the presence of protected humpback whales in recent years.
NOAA requests that all vessels 300 gross tons (GT) or larger reduce speeds to 10 knots when transiting within the designated VSR zones and prioritize use of the western traffic lane of the San Francisco Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) when traveling in the San Francisco Offshore TSS.
Vessels may deviate from the speed and routing recommendations whenever necessary to maintain safe maneuvering.
Moreover, all transits by vessels 300 GT or larger are analysed by NOAA via Automatic Information System (AIS) data provided by USCG to assess the cooperation of companies along with industry as a whole.
Canada
Due to changing migration patterns of North Atlantic right whales and their increased presence in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Government of Canada has set seasonal speed restrictions in specific zones.
Ships must follow Navigational Warnings outlining the speed restrictions. The Interim Order for the Protection of North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena Glacialis) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 2025 enables the issuance of Navigational Warnings (NAVWARNs) imposing speed restrictions and navigation restrictions.
Additionally, speed restriction zones are described in monthly Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs), which are published by the Canadian Coast Guard.
From 1 May, the area surrounding the Southern Gulf Islands will be monitored for Southern Resident killer whale presence by DFO’s Whale Tracking Network and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Enhancing Cetacean and Observation (ECHO) Program, working closely with its local partners.
Ships must stay 400m away and may not position a vessel in the path of killer whales in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet until 31 May, 2025, as per the Interim Order enacted under the Canada Shipping Act.
The Marine Mammal Regulations remain in effect year-round. This requires staying:
- 200 metres away from all killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters other than those described above
- 200 metres away from all whales, porpoises and dolphins when in resting position or with a calf
- 100 metres away from other whales, porpoises and dolphins
As well as following Canada’s laws and regulations it is also recommended to reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 1000m of the nearest killer whale.
Brazil
São Sebastião is home to a large population of migrating humpback whales who have made their way from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Brazil to reproduce. From 1 May voluntary measures are therefore in place.
These include:
- Consider reducing the ship’s speed to 10 knots once 20nm from São Sebastião Island, especially during nighttime
- Consider putting a lookout on the bow
- Ensure maximum manoeuvrability of the ship
- Consider stop the propeller from turning, as an ultimate protection measure if whales are sighted very close to the vessel and it’s not possible to change course to avoid collision
- Prioritize the North Bar pilot station as a port entry if the draft of the ship allows
- Contribute, whenever possible, to the voluntary observation system and lookout to identify the presence of whales inside the channel and anchorage area
- Departure via South Bar pilot station
- Avoid the area around the Southwestern shore of São Sebastião Island (off Ponta da Sela)
