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Verification Methods

The program works with third-party researchers and consultants to calculate the environmental benefits of participation. 

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Program Partners

METHODS

Reduced vessel speeds are shown to reduce air pollution, regional greenhouse gas emissions, underwater noise, and the risk of ship strikes to endangered whales. Click the links below to learn more about the methods used to calculate environmental benefits associated with the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollution

Emission reductions (NOx, SOx, DPM, CO2e) for each VSR season are estimated by looking at the difference in emissions between each participating vessel at its baseline speed and the actual emissions based on the VSR compliant speed observed during the season.

Underwater Noise

To determine underwater noise reductions associated with participation, source levels of participating vessels were compared while the Blue Whales and Blue Skies Vessel Speed Reduction program was active versus inactive in 2023. 

Risk of Ship Strikes
to Whales

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Ship strike risk is estimated utilizing parts of the full, spatially-explicit ship strike model from Rockwood et al. 2020.  Components of the model were isolated which depend on speed (eq. 1) including the encounter rate between whales and vessels, the probability of mortality given a collision and the probability of active avoidance by whales.

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Resources

Scientific literature, media, and other resources regarding the interaction between shipping, marine mammals, and coastal communities.

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