The Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) initiative has released the results of its 2025 Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) season, showing increased commercial fleet participation and expansion of environmental management zones.
🗣The program aims to reduce the risk of ship-whale strikes and reduce air pollution in coastal areas of the United States.
📊 From May 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026, 787 vessels participated in the program, traveling more than 481,000 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots or less—the so-called whale-safe speed. This is higher than the previous season’s figures in both the number of vessels and the total distance covered.
In 2025, the VSR zones were expanded to include the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, increasing coverage of key whale habitat by approximately 2,600 square miles.
⚓️ BWBS is a joint initiative of government agencies, environmental foundations, and scientific organizations. It has been in operation for over ten years and is based on voluntary compliance by operators with speed reduction recommendations in designated areas.
📍 The effectiveness of operator participation is determined based on AIS data:
— the proportion of distance traveled at a speed of ≤10 knots is analyzed;
— the percentage of fleet “cooperation” within VSR zones is calculated;
— Blue Sky, Gold, and Sapphire categories are assigned depending on the level of compliance.
This approach allows for the evaluation of actual vessel routes, identification of overspeed zones, and consideration of voyage planning considerations.
🌍 Reducing speed to 10 knots can reduce the risk of fatal whale strikes by approximately 50%, as well as reduce underwater noise and pollutant emissions by up to 30% in coastal areas of California.
🚢 Despite their voluntary nature, more and more shipping companies are integrating VSR zone requirements into passage planning, impacting ETA calculations, fuel consumption, and fleet operational strategies.
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