Supporting Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s commitment to saving whales
A selected number of Swire Shipping vessels participate in the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Programme, which aims to reduce underwater noise generated by vessels to support the recovery and survival of endangered southern resident killer whales. The programme is led by the Port of Vancouver, who coordinates the voluntary vessel slowdown initiatives in key feeding areas within the whales’ critical habitat.
These research initiatives help to better understand and manage the cumulative effects of shipping activities on whales. The speed reduction applied to Haro Strait, Boundary Pass and Swiftsure Bank areas.
By slowing down, participating ship operators helped reduce underwater sound intensity in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass by up to 55% in 2021. Reducing vessel speed makes it easier for whales to use echo-location to find their food.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Vessel Speed Reduction Programme
Swire Shipping is an active participant in the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies programme in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Southern California Region. We achieved the Sapphire recognition tier for three years in a row (for 2019-2021).
The vessels are a significant source of noise and air pollution, and occasionally ships can accidentally hit endangered blue, humpback, and fin whales. The Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) incentive programme is a voluntary programme where the vessel operators are asked to slow down to a speed of 10 knots or less, which reduces air pollution, fatal strikes on endangered whales and ocean noise.
Below: Thank you postcards from local school children
A selected number of Swire Shipping vessels participate in the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Programme, which aims to reduce underwater noise generated by vessels to support the recovery and survival of endangered southern resident killer whales. The programme is led by the Port of Vancouver, who coordinates the voluntary vessel slowdown initiatives in key feeding areas within the whales’ critical habitat.
These research initiatives help to better understand and manage the cumulative effects of shipping activities on whales. The speed reduction applied to Haro Strait, Boundary Pass and Swiftsure Bank areas.
By slowing down, participating ship operators helped reduce underwater sound intensity in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass by up to 55% in 2021. Reducing vessel speed makes it easier for whales to use echo-location to find their food.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Vessel Speed Reduction Programme
Swire Shipping is an active participant in the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies programme in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Southern California Region. We achieved the Sapphire recognition tier for three years in a row (for 2019-2021).
The vessels are a significant source of noise and air pollution, and occasionally ships can accidentally hit endangered blue, humpback, and fin whales. The Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) incentive programme is a voluntary programme where the vessel operators are asked to slow down to a speed of 10 knots or less, which reduces air pollution, fatal strikes on endangered whales and ocean noise.
Below: Thank you postcards from local school children
This award affirms our belief that collectively we can make a difference; first as a company, and secondly, as a member of the community that we live and work in.”
We have the robust and necessary targets in all areas critical and material to us:
People, Safety, Environment, Partners and Governance to assist us on our
sustainability journey to 2050. In the medium and longer term our single most vitally
important goal is to decarbonise our operations in a world that is suffering from the
effects of man-made global warming.
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