The Panama Canal reported this Monday that it activated a traffic separation scheme and limited the speed of ships passing through the road to avoid accidents with whales, which use the Gulf of Panama to winter.
These measures, recommended by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and implemented by the Canal since 2014, seek to protect whales, dolphins and other large aquatic animals as they begin their seasonal migration.
Vessels that transit in the waters of the interoceanic canal, between August 1 and November 30, must remain within designated navigation areas, which are known as traffic separation schemes, and limit navigation speed to 10 knots.
“The Gulf of Panama is an important wintering place for migratory humpback whales,” said the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), which assured that compliance with these measures recommended by the IMO “has been critical” for the preservation of these species.
The traffic separation scheme and speed reduction “have significantly reduced the likelihood of interactions and serious incidents involving whales and other cetaceans, while guaranteeing maritime safety and control of vessels passing through interoceanic waters. “, asserted the ACP.
He added that the traffic separation schemes also generate an important reduction in emissions, since “the analysis of the speed, position and heading data of the automatic identification systems of the vessels confirmed that compliance with the annual recommendations reduced the emissions of greenhouse gases and polluting gases from a vessel by an average of 75% “.
Savings varied by ship type, size and fuel, but resulted in more than 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) saved in total, between 2017 and 2020, the Authority said.
“When we talk about sustainability in the Canal, we take into account the protection and well-being of our entire ecosystem and biodiversity,” said the administrator of the Panama Canal, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales.
Vásquez indicated that the measures adopted “show that a small change can make a big difference when our industry works together to prioritize sustainability”, and thanked the customers of the road “who continue to recognize the value of these and what the Panama Canal as a Green Route for world maritime trade “.
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