The Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) program is expanding participation to cruise lines operating in California, according to a press release.

The program said it has had a decade of success in reducing the risk of ship strikes and improving coastal air quality.

BWBS is a collaborative effort by regional coastal air districts, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries, and Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory to reduce risks to endangered whales and protect air quality.

“Cruise ships are historically some of the fastest-moving large vessels in our region,” said California Marine Sanctuary Foundation Director of Marine Resource Protection Jess Morten. “Every year we see more and more cruise lines proactively reaching out to understand where and when they should reduce speeds to keep whales safe and for opportunities to get more involved. We look forward to welcoming them in for the 2026 season and are excited to see what we can accomplish together.”

Since launching in 2014, BWBS has worked with more than 50 global cargo shipping lines to incentivize vessel speed reduction to 10 knots or less in key whale habitats.

In 2026 the BWBS coalition is expanding eligibility to include cruise lines as a unique opportunity for the industry to support California’s environmental stewardship, the program said in a statement.

Each year, participating vessels collectively travel hundreds of thousands of nautical miles at whale-safer speeds through designated Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) zones, which overlap with critical habitat for endangered blue, fin, and humpback whales. These cumulative actions, verified through Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and independent analysis, translate into measurable benefits for marine biodiversity, coastal air quality, and public health.

Since the program launched in 2014, the following environmental benefits have been achieved:

• 1,596,008 nautical miles of whale-safer transits
• 5,900 tons of smog-forming NOx emissions avoided
• 35 tons of total diesel particulate matter avoided
• 200,000 metric tons of regional greenhouse gas emissions avoided
• A 4.1 decibel reduction in participating vessels’ source noise levels
• A 50% reduction in fatal ship strike risk

 

To ensure that opening the program to this class of vessels would drive environmental benefits around air quality, BWBS worked with research partner Starcrest Consulting Group, an environmental services company, to conduct a more detailed evaluation of cruise vessel data and baseline operating behavior.

The updated analysis demonstrated that, on average, given the existing fleets transiting the region, incentivizing cruise ships to transit at 10 knots or less is expected to benefit air quality, including a net reduction of smog-forming NOx emissions, as well as contribute to a safer habitat for whales, according to a press release.

In 2024, during the BWBS season, 38 cruise ships from 17 companies traveled approximately 24,000 nautical miles through the California VSR zones. While cruise ships accounted for roughly 3 percent of total distance traveled within VSR zones, they represented approximately 6 percent of total ocean-going vessel emissions in those same areas. This difference highlights a meaningful opportunity for additional environmental improvement.

Average cruise ship speeds outside the VSR season range from 14 to 15 knots, with some vessels averaging up to 20 knots. Research shows that when large vessels reduce speed from baseline for 15 knots to whale-safer 10 knots, the risk of a fatal ship strike decreases by 50 percent.

As a result, cruise vessels’ cooperation with VSR represents a significant opportunity to protect whales and benefit air quality.

Cruise lines can enroll in the program online.

Photo Credit: Adam Ernster