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.

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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 2025 Season results.

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Sapphire

(2025 VSR Results)

Sapphire tier operators travelled 90% or more of total distance at 10 knots or less within the VSR zones.

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Gold

(2025 VSR Results)

Gold tier operators travelled 70% - 89% of total distance at 10 knots or less within the VSR zones.

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Blue Sky

(2025 VSR Results)

Blue Sky tier operators travelled 50% - 69% of distance at 10 knots or less within the VSR zones.

Graphic includes each award category with logos of all participating lines.

Sapphire Tier (90%+)

Gold Tier (70-89%)

Blue Sky Tier (50-69%)

Participants

Each whale-safer voyage makes a measurable impact. Shipping lines that enroll and are determined to have traveled 30% or more of their total distance in VSR Zones at 10 knots or less are recognized as participants in the program.

For the 2025 VSR Season, these lines include:

Pacific Basin (opens in new tab)

Gulf Energy Maritime (opens in new tab)

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