Participating Ship Operators & Award Tiers
Participants in the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program range from companies with a handful of vessels to the largest shipping companies in the world. Together they account for roughly 80% of all container traffic that passes through the Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) zones.
Photo: Ralph A. Clevenger
Participating Ship Operators & Award Tiers
Each VSR Season BWBS awards recognition by operator's cooperation rates based upon our analysis of AIS data from each vessel within a companies fleet that transited through program VSR zones. Below reflects the latest 2026 Mid-Season results.
Sapphire
(2026 Mid-Season VSR Results)
Sapphire tier operators travelled 75% or more of total distance at 10 knots or less within the VSR zones.
Gold
(2026 Mid-Season VSR Results)
Gold tier operators travelled 50% - 74% of total distance at 10 knots or less within the VSR zones.
Blue Sky
(2026 Mid-Season VSR Results)
Blue Sky tier operators travelled 30% - 49% of distance at 10 knots or less within the VSR zones.
Sapphire Tier (75%+)
Sapphire
Anglo-Eastern Shipmanagement
2024
Sapphire
APL
2026
Sapphire
BP Shipping
2025
Sapphire
CMA CGM
2018
Sapphire
ConocoPhillips Polar Tankers
2024
Sapphire
COSCO
2018
Sapphire
CSL Americas
2022
Sapphire
Eastern Pacific Shipping
2025
Sapphire
Evergreen
2018
Sapphire
Hapag Lloyd
2018
Sapphire
Liberty Maritime
2025
Sapphire
Maersk
2018
Sapphire
Marathon Petroleum Corporation
2024
Sapphire
MMS Co
2026
Sapphire
MOL ACE – NMCC
2022
Sapphire
MSC
2018
Sapphire
MSC Cruise
2026
Sapphire
Navarone
2025
Sapphire
Neptune Pacific
2026
Sapphire
NYK Ro-Ro
2018
Sapphire
OOCL
2022
Sapphire
OSG Ship Management
2023
Sapphire
Scorpio Group
2023
Sapphire
Swire Bulk
2022
Sapphire
Swire Shipping
2019
Sapphire
Toyofuji Shipping Co LTD
2022
Sapphire
Virgin Voyages
2026
Sapphire
Wallenius Wilhelmsen
2020
Sapphire
Wan Hai Lines
2022
Sapphire
Yang Ming
2018
Gold Tier (50-74%)
Gold
Gulf Energy Maritime
2025
Gold
Hakuyo Shipping Co.
2025
Gold
Hyundai Glovis
2018
Gold
Hyundai Merchant Marine
2022
Gold
K Line
2018
Gold
MT Maritime Management USA
2025
Gold
Nhat Viet Transportation Corporation
2025
Gold
ONE Line
2018
Gold
Precious Shipping
2026
Gold
Tsakos Shipping and Trading
2026
Gold
Unisea Shipping Ltd.
2023
Blue Sky Tier (30-49%)
Blue Sky
Carbon Shipping
2026
Blue Sky
Champion Tankers AS
2025
Blue Sky
d’Amico Group
2023
Blue Sky
Seaspan Corporation
2025
Blue Sky
Susesea Deniz
2026
Take The Next Step
Join a growing movement of industry leaders—enroll your fleet to reduce whale strikes, improve air quality, and gain recognition for sustainable shipping.
Photo: Adam Ernster