Whales are facing threats from ship strikes, with up to 80 dying off the West Coast of the United States each year and a third of right whale deaths in the Atlantic attributed to ship collisions. NOAA is taking steps to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales with proposed rule changes regarding vessel speeds near these whales. FarSounder, a developer of 3D forward looking sonar (FLS), is actively involved in developing technology to help ships detect and avoid whales while ensuring no harm to the environment. Their technology has shown promising results in detecting humpback whales up to 500 meters away.
FarSounder’s technology is harmless to marine life and they are actively working on expanding their research to other whale species and developing classification models. They are planning further field work to study and collect data on different species to increase scientific knowledge and provide performance metrics for whale detection. The company is also developing an online course for bridge crews on yachts, cruise ships, and other vessels to educate them on safe operations near whales and proper sonar use.
With the urgency to protect whale populations, technological advancements like FarSounder’s 3D FLS are crucial in preventing ship strikes and conserving marine life. The maritime community needs to do everything possible to protect valuable marine resources and sea life, including implementing available technology to minimize tragedies like whale deaths from ship collisions. Collaboration between technology developers, regulators, and vessel operators is needed to ensure the successful integration of whale detection technologies into navigation systems.
