| Seattle, June 6, 2006 — Holland America Line’s “Avoiding Whale Strikes” program and the cruise company’s leadership and commitment to the conservation of whales have been recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA’s Fisheries Service) with a Conservation Partnership Award, part of a newly established Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards Program.
To assist in the recovery and ensure the safety of all whale species, Holland America Line, in cooperation with NOAA’s Fisheries Service and the National Parks Service, developed and launched the comprehensive and interactive computer-based training program. All deck officers on Holland America Line vessels have taken the course.
“Collisions with ships are one of the largest threats to whales,” Volkle said. “Our vessels frequently operate in waters inhabited by whales and it is our responsibility to protect the resources of the ocean environment from which we make our living. Establishing the “Avoiding Whale Strikes” program demonstrates our leadership position on an important conservation issue.”
An essential part of “Avoiding Whale Strikes” is basic instruction on identifying whale types. Sections of the program discuss surface characteristics of each species, such as blow patterns (the shape of the spray when a whale breathes out through its blowhole), how many times a whale might blow before diving, whether it shows its fluke before diving and how many whales might be in the group. For example, right whales have a distinctive two-column V-shaped blow, typically travel alone or in groups of two or three, usually blow 10 to 15 times before diving and show their fluke before deep dives. Identifying the species and anticipating individual behavioral patterns greatly reduce the chance of collisions.
Also at the heart of the “Avoiding Whale Strikes” program is a series of precautionary measures that ships’ crews can take once the species is identified. For instance, in areas with high concentrations of whales, or when a species is known to travel in large groups, additional lookouts should be assigned. The ship should slow to 10 knots if a mother and calf are spotted, or drift if the ship is surrounded by a pod of whales.
Holland America Line has freely distributed the program throughout the cruise ship industry via industry organizations, as well as given the United States government copyright to distribute the program to shipping and military interests. The one-hour program is available to the maritime community to help all ships avoid striking whales. A number of prestigious organizations are using the program, including the International Whaling Commission (which regulates commercial whaling throughout the world), the Federal Public Service Office of the European Union and the Southeast Alaska Pilot’s Association.
“This is an excellent example of how we can work with our regulatory partners and other government agencies to address our common goals – in this case, the preservation of whales,” observed Kruse.
This is the inaugural year for NOAA’s Stewardship and Sustainability Awards Program, established to publicly acknowledge the leadership and innovative efforts of those involved with the use of the nation’s living marine resources.
For more information on the award-winning “Avoiding Whale Strikes” program contact National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Park
Service at www.nmfs.noaa.gov
For more information on Holland America Line consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425)
or visit www.hollandamerica.com |
