Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies vessel speed reduction (VSR) program announced results from 2023, including a reduction in coastal California air pollution, lowered risk to whales, and reduced ocean noise.
The voluntary program ran May 1 through December 15, 2023. Thirty-three global shipping companies participated in the voluntary incentive-based VSR program in 2023. Companies reduced ship speeds off California, transiting at 10 knots or less in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay region and the Southern California region.
What is the Blue Whales and Blue Skies?
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies is a vessel speed reduction program for safer whales, cleaner air, and a quieter ocean. It is a collaborative effort by several air pollution control districts, national marine sanctuaries in California, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and other non-profit organizations.
Ship strikes are a major threat to whales globally and to the recovery of endangered and threatened blue, fin, and humpback whales in California waters. Reducing the risk of ship strikes is a high priority for NOAA’s West Coast national marine sanctuaries. From 2007-2022, observed and documented deaths off of California totaled 52 endangered whales. This is thought to represent only a small fraction of the total number of ship strikes taking place annually.
The timing of the program coincides with the season when ground-level ozone (smog) concentrations are typically high. The 10-knot target allows ships to travel safely and at an efficient operating load using less fuel and producing less pollution and regional greenhouse gas emissions. The 2024 program runs May through December 2024.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies achieved the highest participation and cooperation levels since its inception in 2014, even after phasing out financial incentives. Shipping companies are recognized with awards for their level of performance.
Cooperation levels continue to improve in both regions with an overall 81% cooperation rate from participants, up from 78% in the 2022 season. The number of participants was also greater than any previous year, increasing from 23 shipping companies in 2022.
Highlights of the 2023 program include:
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Shipping companies that participated in the 2023 program reduced their air pollutant emissions by approximately 1,250 tons of NOx (nitrogen oxides) and 45,000 metric tons of regional GHGs (greenhouse gases). These numbers represent a 27% reduction in NOx and GHG pollution from the ships that participated in the program, as compared to 2016 baseline conditions. For comparison, the NOx reductions are equivalent to converting 800,000 passenger vehicles to zero emissions for a single year.
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The transits of vessels participating in the program posed approximately 58% less strike mortality risk to whales than if those vessels did not reduce their speed.
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Ships in the qualifying performance tiers had sound levels that were 5.4 dB per transit lower when compared to 2016 baseline source levels. With a reduction in noise pollution, whales can likely communicate easier.
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Of the 462,500 nautical miles of ocean transited by all the ships in the program, nearly 375,437 nautical miles were at 10 knots or less, equivalent to traversing the circumference of the Earth more than 15 times.
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Ships in the program transiting the 200-nautical-mile VSR zone in Southern California traveled at 10 knots or less for 83% of the total miles traveled. Cooperation has steadily increased season after season, (in 2017, approximately 21% of the miles were traveled at 10 knots or less). This shows the increasing commitment by the participating companies over the years.
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In the approximately 200-nautical-mile San Francisco Bay Area VSR zone, cooperation levels from the participating companies rose to 76%, up from 72% in 2022.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies recognized cooperating shipping companies in three performance measurement tiers:
- Sapphire (85-100% of fleet total distance in VSR zones traveled at 10 knots or less), Gold (60%-84%), and Blue Sky (35%-59%).
- Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders on each ship transmit the ship’s speed and location. AIS data was analyzed for each fleet, and the company’s performance was classified by tier.
- Thirteen companies reached the Sapphire level, the most in the top level category since the program began. They are CMA CGM, CSL Group, D’Amico Tankers DAC, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), NingBo Ocean Shipping Co, NYK Ro-Ro, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), OSG Ship Management, Swire Shipping, Yang Ming, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
Shipping companies comment on participation in Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies:
Swire Shipping
Harry Stones, President of Swire Shipping North America, emphasized the company’s commitment to biodiversity and ocean health. Swire Shipping is actively participating in the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies programme. Stones proudly announced that the company received the Sapphire Award for the fifth consecutive year.
OOCL
Michael Xu, Director of Trades at OOCL, highlighted the company’s achievement of the Sapphire recognition in the 2023 Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies program. He reaffirmed OOCL’s long-term commitment to environmental protection, stating that all businesses should minimize their environmental impact and protect marine life and reduce emissions.
MSC
Stanley Kwiaton, Regional Manager, West coast, Port Operations at MSC, expressed gratitude for the company’s recognition for the sixth consecutive year. MSC is dedicated to sustainable cargo transportation and is committed to protecting marine life and the ecosystems they inhabit.
CSL
Emily Pointon, Director of Environmental, Social and Governance at CSL, discussed the company’s commitment to mitigating ship strikes, reducing carbon emissions, noise pollution, and enhancing air quality. CSL is actively engaged in the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program to advance its environmental objectives and ensure a sustainable future for the maritime industry.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Delphine Echenique, Senior VP of Business Operations Development at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, announced the company’s pride in receiving the Sapphire award in 2023. She highlighted the company’s relentless efforts and innovative strategies in support of the Blue Whales Blue Skies initiative, reflecting a deep commitment to safeguarding marine biodiversity.
Yang Ming
James Jeng, Chief Marine Technology Officer at Yang Ming, discussed the company’s honor of receiving the Sapphire award for the third time. He emphasized the company’s efforts to protect marine life by slowing vessel speeds and its partnership with NOAA to ensure a sustainable future for the planet’s marine life and ecosystems.
OSG Ship Management
Sam Norton, CEO and President of OSG Ship Management, attributed the company’s award to the positive dedication of its seafarers and shoreside team. Norton emphasized the power of collaboration in driving positive change and acknowledged the link between human well-being and the health of the natural world, including ocean wildlife.
ONE Line
Dan Sheehy, Senior Vice President, Product & Network at ONE Line, announced the company’s achievement of sapphire status through the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Incentive Program. He highlighted the company’s efforts to reduce speed to protect marine wildlife and further reduce its carbon footprint.
Hapag-Lloyd
Wolfram Guntermann, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Hapag-Lloyd, reiterated the company’s commitment to preserving oceans and the magnificent creatures that inhabit them. He expressed pride in achieving the Sapphire Status in the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program, reaffirming the company’s pledge of environmental responsibility.
NYK Ro-Ro
Jack Duesler, Regional Operation Manager at NYK Ro-Ro, expressed the company’s deep desire to maintain the Sapphire status each year. He highlighted the full support from all teams locally and overseas, emphasizing their ability to manage and maintain the highest status category.
d’Amico Shipping
Antonia d’Amico, Group ESG Director at d’Amico Shipping, announced the company’s acknowledgment in the prestigious Blue Whales and Blue Skies program. She highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact and sustain the delicate ecosystems it engages with, emphasizing the company’s dedication to protecting seas and marine wildlife through the initiative.
