HAPAG-LLOYD AG TO RECEIVE
The first company to receive recognition owning to their outstanding practise, commitments, and concern towards the protection of endangered whale populations from lethal ship strikes.
F
riend of the Sea, a conservation project by the World Sustainability Organization is pleased to award Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s leading shipping companies, the highest level of Whale-Safe recognition for its outstanding degree of engagement and effort towards the conservation of endangered whales under ongoing threat from whale-ship collisions. Whale-ship collisions remains a neglected yet concerning issue 176
onset by the maritime industry. Studies have shown that collisions with ships represent one of the most salient threats to whales, prompting concerns that continual neglect may dwindle the already endangered species’ pass the tipping point towards extinction. With the shipping industry steadily expanding by 3% annually, Friend of the Sea initiated the WhaleSafe campaign out of concern for corresponding surmised rises in collision induced mortalities. The initiative, launched in 2020, was motivated after internally conducted research exposed the severity of the issue, which has since garnered encouraging media attention over the last two years clearly outlining its neglect and subsequent significance. The culminating Friend of the Sea Whale-Safe award is intended to attract further critical awareness and to spur collective dialogue towards
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
designing effective solutions, and ultimately imperative change within the maritime industry. “Friend of the Sea strives to amplify the voices of shipping operators who outspokenly recognise the sea, not merely as a convenient venture, but as a resource of intrinsic value that we must respect and protect” Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea Friend of the Sea assessed the top 20 shipping and cruise line operators globally according to their level of compliance, engagement and efforts directed in abating whale-ship collisions. Through meticulous scrutiny of internal environmental reports & policies, direct engagement with relevant sustainability associates and exhaustive inspection of all available information online, Hapag-Lloyd was found to have achieved the highest score for its www.lancmag.com
