Watch out for whales

Accidental collisions between ships and whales are a global concern and can occur wherever there is an overlap between whale activity and vessel traffic. To help seafarers plan their voyages to minimise the risk of collisions, the World Shipping Council (WSC) has launched the WSC Whale Chart.

This navigational aid is the first global mapping of all mandatory and voluntary governmental measures to reduce harm to whales from ships. The WSC Whale Chart is available for free to all interested parties and will be regularly updated.

Whales inhabit the ocean worldwide and many spend considerable time at the surface. For these reasons whales are especially vulnerable to injury by vessel traffic; experience shows that separating ships and whales is the most effective way to limit ship strikes. In areas where separation is not possible, speed reductions can help mitigate the risk. Hence, there are numerous international, regional, national, and local regulations and recommendations addressing areas to be avoided, routing measures, and speed restrictions for seafarers to keep track of as they navigate the globe.

“With the WSC Whale Chart, seafarers will for the first time have a comprehensive global resource offering critical navigational coordinates and concise graphics to identify routing measures and areas subject to static speed restrictions designed to protect whales and other cetaceans. We hope that by compiling this unique navigational aid, keeping it updated, and making it available for free to all navigators, we can help reduce ship strikes and safeguard endangered whale populations across the globe,” says John Butler, president and CEO of the WSC.

Download the WSC Whale Chart here: https://www.worldshipping.org/whales.