apphire award winning shipping lines recognized at the ceremony; Credit: Adam Ernster<\/p>\n
2026 Vessel Speed Reduction Season Kicked off on Earth Day<\/p>\n
Industry Leadership Celebrated by Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program<\/p>\n
Earth Day marked several important milestones for California\u2019s coast, benefiting both coastal counties and marine life. On April 22, Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) launched the 2026 voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Season, now along the entire California coast as set forth in California Assembly Bill 14, authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom last year.<\/p>\n
The season kickoff also featured an in-person gathering near the Port of Oakland for the annual BWBS Awards Ceremony. Industry, public agencies, and nonprofit leaders gathered to recognize shipping lines\u2019 verified efforts in responsible shipping over the course of the 2025 Season. The event included awards for top-performing shipping lines and company ambassadors, and honored Assembly member Hart for his leadership and support of the program\u2019s work toward safer whales, cleaner air, and a quieter ocean.<\/p>\n
2026 Season Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) zone map<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen industry leaders and public partners step up together, we send a powerful signal: protecting our oceans and growing our economy are not competing goals, they are shared responsibilities,\u201d said Assemblymember Hart. \u201cThrough the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program, California isn\u2019t just participating in this work, we are setting the standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to congratulate the shipping lines that signed up to participate in the 2025 program,\u201d said Aeron Arlin Genet, Executive Director of Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, one of the program\u2019s founding partners. \u201cThese shipping companies take pride in the environmental benefits their voluntary actions can have, both for the protection of whales and of human health. It was exciting to celebrate their success alongside Assemblymember Gregg Hart, whose dedicated leadership with AB 14 allowed this impressive program to expand statewide moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ceremony included an overview of the 2025 Season results, and for the first time, panel presentations by shipping lines, program ambassadors (including consumer brands, ports, and maritime logistics and technology representatives), and whale conservation leaders, including from the World Wildlife Fund, University of Washington, Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, and the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation.<\/p>\n
Sapphire and Gold awards handcrafted by shipwright Nate Slater; Credit: Adam Ernster<\/p>\n
MSC received the Sustained Leadership Award, recognizing the world\u2019s largest container line as the most consistent top performer in the program across its 11 year history, and<\/p>\n
shared their World Whale Day video,<\/p>\n
which highlighted the importance of, and MSC\u2019s commitment to, protecting endangered whale populations. Representatives from MSC, CMA CGM, CSL Americas, and NYK Line \u2013 top performers across the container, car carrier, and bulk carrier operator categories in the 2025 program \u2013 highlighted their efforts to protect biodiversity and air quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe at NYK Line are excited once again to receive the sapphire award. It takes a tremendous effort from our crews and staff overseas and locally to make this happen.\u201d \u2013 Jack Duesler, Operations Manager of NYK Line RORO Division.<\/p>\n
\u201cCMA CGM has been involved in the Blue Whales Blue Skies Program for the last 6 years. It\u2019s something that is very important to us and it\u2019s in our DNA to participate\u2026In the 2025 season we are proud to say that we earned a cooperation grade of 99%, which equates to over 60,000 nautical miles of transits at whale safer speeds off California. It\u2019s something we are very passionate about and we are happy to be a part of this great program.\u201d \u2013 John Roehl, U.S. West Coast Director of Marine Operations, CMA CGM.<\/p>\n
Company ambassadors including JAS Worldwide, Nomad, STAX Engineering, and The Block Logistics shared insights on supporting responsible supply chains, what makes them hopeful, and how they are navigating the landscape.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat gives me hope is seeing real, measurable progress as companies take sustainability seriously\u2014there\u2019s nothing quite like watching STAX\u2019s emissions capture system redirect and clean pollution from a 40,000-ton cargo ship in real time.\u201d \u2013 Jaimi Klein, Head of Marketing, STAX Engineering<\/p>\n
\u201cJAS is proud to be awarded BWBS Sapphire ambassador for the second consecutive year. We remain committed to working alongside our customers, carriers, and partners while respecting the oceans that support life on Earth.\u201d \u2013 Andrea Goeman, SVP Global QHSE & Sustainability, JAS Worldwide<\/p>\n
Celebrating Industry Leadership & Impact<\/p>\n
Each year, BWBS encourages and verifies shipping lines\u2019 voluntary efforts regarding cooperation with the program\u2019s parameters for slowing down, and works with research partners to quantify the environmental benefits including: reduced risk to whales and reduced underwater noise pollution, and improved air quality via reduced smog-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx), diesel particulate matter (DPM), and greenhouse gas emissions.During the awards ceremony, top-performing shipping lines and program ambassadors are recognized, and Sapphire Award winners receive the coveted whale tails, handcrafted this year by shipwright Nate Slater.<\/p>\n
CMA CGM; MSC; COSCO; NYK Line RoRo; Yang Ming; OOCL; Hapag-Lloyd; Marathon Petroleum; OSG Ship Management; ConocoPhillips Polar Tankers; CSL Americas; Wan Hai Lines; Scorpio Group; Seaspan Corporation; Swire Shipping; BP Shipping Ltd.; Campbell Shipping Company; GoldenKing Ship Management Co.; Toyofuji Shipping Co.; Unity Ship Management; Hakuyo Kisen KK; and Nhat Viet Transportation Corporation.<\/p>\n
Nomad Goods, Sonos, JAS Worldwide, Who Gives a Crap, and ShipCo Transport.<\/p>\n
Maersk; ONE; Evergreen; Mol ACE; Wallenius Wilhelmsen; Liberty Maritime; Eastern Pacific Shipping; Unisea Shipping Ltd; Canfornav; and Weihai Weitong Marine Shipping Co.<\/p>\n
Block Logistics, Port of Hueneme, and Port of Oakland.<\/p>\n
Hyundai (UCC); K Line; Hyundai Glovis; D\u2019Amico Group; Swire Bulk; Champion Tankers AS; Anglo-Eastern Shipmanagement; MT Maritime Management USA; Asan Merchant Marine Co. LTD; and Shih Wei Navigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis annual event is truly one of the highlights of my year. Gathering in person to celebrate our shipping line participants and ambassadors for another season of positive impact is always inspiring. It felt especially meaningful this year as we kicked off a new season that expands these protections statewide, covering even more vital whale habitat and air quality zones. We are immensely proud of\u2014and grateful for\u2014the collaborative relationships we\u2019ve built with the shipping industry, and we look forward to continuing to demonstrate that commerce and conservation can, and do, coexist.\u201d \u2013 Jessica Morten, Dir. of Marine Resource Protections, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation.<\/p>\n
About & Enrollment Information<\/p>\n
BWBS is a collaborative partnership working toward safer whales, cleaner air, and a quieter ocean.<\/p>\n
the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, San Luis Obispo County, Northern Sonoma County, and San Diego County Air Pollution Control Districts; Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Monterey Bay Air Resources District; Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Greater Farallones, and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries; and Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory.<\/p>\n
Container, car carrier, bulk, general cargo, tanker,<\/p>\n
and \u2014 new for the 2026 Season \u2014<\/p>\n
are eligible to enroll. Early enrollment is encouraged (but not required) to receive all the customized monthly reports detailing whale sightings and fleet-specific data. Enrollment materials and details can be<\/p>\n
.Questions may be sent to Jessica Morten at<\/p>\n
and Danielle Alvarez at<\/p>\n
. For questions on the<\/p>\n
, contact Becca Tucker at<\/p>\n