The Swedish Club has taken a significant step toward marine conservation by adding new Right Whale Advice to its Trade Enabling Loss Prevention (TELP) program. This initiative is designed to help shipowners and operators comply with Canadian and U.S. regulations aimed at safeguarding endangered whale populations while maintaining safe navigation and efficient operations.
Protecting Endangered Whale Populations
Vessel strikes remain one of the leading threats to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, with only a few hundred left in existence. By integrating Right Whale advice into passage planning, TELP provides masters and bridge teams with clear instructions on seasonal zones, speed restrictions, and routing measures.
This not only supports regulatory compliance but also helps reduce the risk of ship-whale collisions, avoiding potential fines, operational delays, and reputational harm.
Joakim Enström, Senior Loss Prevention Officer at The Swedish Club, emphasized that this is “more than meeting a regulation it shows our commitment to responsible navigation and protecting endangered species.”
Expanding the Scope of TELP
The new guidance extends coverage to key whale protection areas on both the Canadian and U.S. east and west coasts, including measures for the protection of killer whales on the Canadian west coast. TELP’s expansion reflects the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility within the shipping industry.
Lorraine Hager, Loss Prevention & Marketing Advisor, explained that the inclusion of whale protection demonstrates the Club’s adaptability: “Extending TELP to include whale protection reflects the challenges our industry faces today and the expectations placed upon it.”
By embedding whale protection into everyday passage planning, The Swedish Club’s TELP program continues to serve as a practical tool for reducing risk and enhancing compliance. More importantly, it empowers shipowners to contribute to marine biodiversity conservation, ensuring safer seas for both vessels and endangered species alike.
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Source: AJOT
