California’s coastline is vital for whale habitats, prompting the shipping industry to implement protective measures. Collaborating with NOAA, major ocean carriers are reducing speeds to 10 knots in designated zones to prevent ship strikes on endangered whales. This initiative, “Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies,” also aims to reduce pollution.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is pursuing legal action against a manning agency for abandoning four Filipino seafarers in San Diego. Secretary Hans Cacdac highlighted the vulnerability of seafarers in the fishing industry and vowed to hold the agency accountable. The DMW also plans to enhance protections for OFW fishers this year.
Chevron Corp. is relocating its headquarters from California to Houston after facing challenges with the state’s regulations. The move, part of a management restructuring, aims to improve performance. CEO Mike Wirth emphasized the decision wasn’t politically motivated but aimed at enhancing competitiveness. Chevron’s missed earnings estimates further highlight the need for strategic moves.
The Safer Seas Digest 2023 is accessible online, along with past editions, via the NTSB website. The annual publication, issued by the NTSB’s Office of Marine Safety since 2014, shares safety issues, recommendations, and lessons learned from marine surveys conducted in the previous year to enhance maritime safety.
A unified command was established to respond to an oil sheen off the coast of Huntington Beach, California. The Coast Guard, local, and federal authorities are investigating the incident, with an oil recovery contractor hired to collect offshore oil. The sheen, 2.5 miles long, was found near the Emmy and Eva platforms.
