The largest container line in the world has changed its route so that it doesn't collide with blue whales.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company has taken a major step to help protect blue whales and other cetaceans by modifying navigation guidance in line with the advice of scientists and other key actors in the maritime sector.
The action was taken because of research done by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. From the previous route, the vessels will travel about 15 nautical miles to the south.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare said in a statement that blue whales can be found year-round off the southern tip of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, causing a high risk of collision as the usual international shipping lanes pass right through the area.
These small changes are making a difference for the whales. The population of whales is at risk due to the fact that they die as a result of accidents. One whale death is one too many and ship strikes are both a problem and a benefit.
The voluntary rerouting of MSC doesn't affect other carriers, but advocates hope it will lead to changes to the official shipping lane that would affect all vessels. The research found that adjusting the shipping lane would reduce the risk of a whale being struck by a ship.
The key to turning the tide is re- routeing. It shows the Sri Lankan government that it is time to remove the shipping lane from the blue whale habitat for all merchant vessels.
Blue whales are very large. They can live for up to 80 years. At the time it was given international protection, the blue whales were on the verge of extinction.
Due to declines in its primary food source, blue whales are still threatened even though hunting is not allowed. Climate crisis, ocean acidification, and other factors have been blamed for the decline in krill.
The largest container line in the world, MSC, has a fleet that can carry 4.3 million standard 20-foot containers.
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