Blue Whales and Blue Skies: A New Initiative for Cruise Lines Opens Up

The Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) program is set to expand its participation to include cruise lines operating in California. Announced in a recent press release, the initiative has successfully worked over the past decade to mitigate ship strikes on whales and enhance air quality in coastal areas.

The BWBS program, a collaboration of various organizations including regional coastal air districts and the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, focuses on minimizing risks to endangered whale species and promoting cleaner air. Jess Morten, Director of Marine Resource Protection with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, highlighted that cruise ships, which are among the fastest-moving vessels in the region, have increasingly shown interest in understanding speed regulations that protect whales.

Launched in 2014, the BWBS program has already partnered with over 50 global cargo shipping companies to encourage speed reductions to 10 knots or less in critical whale habitats. The inclusion of cruise lines in 2026 represents a unique opportunity for the industry to contribute to California’s environmental efforts.

Participating vessels collectively cover substantial distances at safer speeds through designated Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) zones that are vital habitats for endangered whale species such as blue, fin, and humpback whales. Actions taken by the BWBS program have resulted in significant environmental benefits:

• 1,596,008 nautical miles of whale-safe transits
• 5,900 tons of avoided smog-forming NOx emissions
• 35 tons of avoided diesel particulate matter
• 200,000 metric tons of reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• A 4.1 decibel decrease in noise levels from participating vessels
• A 50% reduction in the risk of fatal ship strikes on whales

To ensure that the inclusion of cruise vessels would enhance environmental outcomes, BWBS partnered with Starcrest Consulting Group to analyze cruise ship data. The findings indicated that encouraging these ships to transit at 10 knots or less would benefit air quality and improve conditions for whale habitats.

In 2024, 38 cruise ships from 17 companies traversed about 24,000 nautical miles within California’s VSR zones. Although these ships accounted for only 3% of the total distance traveled in VSR areas, they were responsible for approximately 6% of emissions, indicating a substantial opportunity for environmental enhancements.

Cruise ship speeds typically range from 14 to 15 knots, with some vessels reaching up to 20 knots. Research demonstrates that reducing speeds from 15 knots to 10 knots can halve the risk of fatal ship strikes against whales, making compliance with VSR regulations a critical step towards marine conservation.

For cruise lines interested in joining the BWBS program, enrollment can be completed online.

Learn more about the program here.

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