By
Rebecca Gibson |
Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve has introduced a new, reduced speed limit for cruise vessels in all designated ‘whale waters’ in the region.
A speed limit of ten knots through the water will apply to all motor vessels of at least 2,000 grt (International Convention System) that have been approved to carry more than 12 passengers, due to their limited manoeuvrability. The regulations came into force from 5am on 13 July this year.
Other types of vessels may still travel at speeds of up to 13 knots through the water, but must immediately slow to ten knots or less if they are inadvertently positioned within a quarter of a nautical mile of a humpback whale. In accordance with the park’s regulations, ships must also maintain a steady course away from the whale and avoid shifting into reverse unless an impact is likely.
Designed to protect the high density of humpback whales, the regulations aim to minimise whale disturbance and the risk of whale-vessel collision by giving them more time to react and move away from the vessel.
Current whale waters areas begin at the park boundary in Icy Strait and extend through the Lower Bay to an imaginary line between Netland Island, Willoughby Island. They then continue east of Boulder Island to the Beardslee Islands’ motorless waters boundary.