Digital solutions provider Ocean Technologies Group (OTG) has entered into a new partnership with the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) to reduce ship strikes and risks posed to marine mammals. Together, they will make their e-learning title, “Becoming Whale Aware’’, available through the award-winning Ocean Learning Platform (OLP).
Recognising that collisions with fishing vessels, cargo ships, cruise liners and whale-watching vessels are one of the greatest known threats to whales, dolphins and porpoises, the WCA-designed course supports commercial vessel operators by educating crews on how to avoid collisions with whales and dolphins. This, in turn, contributes to improving the safety of crew, passengers, vessels and the wider marine environment.
This will be the first course in OTG’s Ocean Learning Library specifically developed to help shipowners and operators educate crew on measures to reduce the risk of ship strikes.
In particular, these events pose a significant risk to large whale species, including critically endangered species such as the North Atlantic right whale.
WCA CEO Harry Eckman said alliance was “thrilled” to be working with OTG to host the Whale Aware course.
“It’s a hugely important relationship that puts our course within reach of over one million seafarers and provides training that can potentially save the lives of thousands of whales,” he said.
OTG’s Group Director Cruise & Yachts Joost Van Ree added, “Being able to offer this whale awareness e-learning is of huge interest and benefit to our customers for whom protecting the environment is a high priority. It is particularly important for our cruise industry clients who are huge advocates of ensuring crew understand the actions that they can take to protect marine habitats.
“This partnership with the WCA will prove to be invaluable in helping OLP users to protect our marine ecosystem for future generations,” he said.
