{
  "id": 12712707,
  "title": "World Shipping Council launch digital global Whale Chart with HUB Ocean",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/world-shipping-council-launch-digital-global-whale-chart-with-hub",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T21:00:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hellenic Shipping News",
    "slug": "hellenic-shipping-news",
    "url": "https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/world-shipping-council-launch-digital-global-whale-chart-with-hub-ocean/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The World Shipping Council (WSC), in collaboration with HUB Ocean, has unveiled a digital iteration of the Whale Chart, streamlining global access to critical information on measures aimed at safeguarding whales from ship-related harm. Initially released in 2023, the Whale Chart was the pioneer in mapping all recognized mandatory and voluntary governmental measures targeting whale protection from vessels, encompassing speed limitations, routing guidelines, areas to be circumvented, and strategies for mitigating underwater acoustic noise.\n\nBy collaborating with HUB Ocean to develop the digital Whale Chart, these measures have become more navigable, more current, and seamlessly integrable with digital systems and operational tools. \"Mariners operate across diverse jurisdictions, and the protective measures for whales differ significantly across nations and regions. Digitally compiling this information and making it readily accessible to navigators aboard ships allows for more informed voyage planning, ultimately aiding crews in making decisions that can significantly impact whale protection,\" stated Joe Kramek, President & CEO of the World Shipping Council.\n\nKimberly Mathisen, CEO of HUB Ocean, echoed the significance of this initiative. \"The Whale Chart has already established itself as a crucial reference for the shipping industry. Our objective is to enhance the usability of this information, thereby incorporating it into more decision-making processes, voyages, and ultimately, more concrete actions to protect whales.\"\n\nThe Whale Chart and all its foundational datasets are now accessible via HUB Ocean's Ocean Data Platform, an open, cloud-based geospatial platform that converts ocean data into actionable insights. By integrating the Whale Chart into this platform, users can explore it in conjunction with other authoritative datasets, including marine protected areas and other ocean intelligence layers. This integration facilitates richer insights and decision-making for various stakeholders, including mariners, ship operators, governments, and researchers.\n\nTo coincide with the launch of the digital Whale Chart, the World Shipping Council has also released the fourth edition of the Whale Chart handbook. This handbook offers a concise regional overview of whale protection measures, complemented by the digital platform's provision of more detailed, searchable, and up-to-date information tailored to specific voyage areas.\n\nGiven that whales traverse national boundaries and navigate through some of the world's most heavily trafficked shipping lanes, the interplay between shipping traffic and whale presence necessitates measures to separate vessels from whales. In instances where separation is unattainable, implementing speed reductions can aid in reducing the risk and impact of ship strikes while concurrently minimizing underwater noise pollution. The World Shipping Council remains committed to continuously updating the Whale Chart as measures evolve and new data emerges.",
  "summary": "The World Shipping Council (WSC), in partnership with HUB Ocean, today launched a digital version of the WSC Whale Chart, making global information on measures to protect whales from ships even more accessible. Since its initial launch in 2023, WSC’s Whale Chart was the first global mapping of all known mandatory and voluntary governmental measures ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hellenic Shipping News",
        "title": "Smart Ship Hub brings sustainability conversation beyond shipping with screening of All the World Is Green",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/smart-ship-hub-brings-sustainability-conversation-beyond-shipping",
        "published": "2026-10-07T21:00:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}