Freight Information: Cargo Ships Ramming Blue Whales in Sri Lanka (w/ video)

Think about you’re delivery your ocean freight cargo and the service vessel transporting your items crashes into a large blue whale. That is changing into a standard incidence off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The blue whale is the biggest creature ever recognized to stay on earth. That features the monstrous dinosaurs that after roamed the planet.

Little is thought about these large, endangered creatures; nevertheless, one factor that’s recognized is many blue whales have made the waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka their dwelling. Whereas blue whales are recognized emigrate over giant distances, those off the coast of Sri Lanka seem to remain there yr spherical.

Additionally in these waters, solely 15 miles off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, is without doubt one of the busiest delivery lanes on this planet.

It’s not laborious to think about that the place one of many world’s largest whale populations and busiest routes for cargo carriers meet, the 2 are colliding. Whereas this definitely presents risks to cargo vessels, their crews, and shippers’ ocean freight, it’s the whales that appear to be on the dropping finish.

A current New York Instances article describes the sight of a lifeless, 60-foot-long blue whale that was found by whale watchers. “The physique was swelling quickly, and suckerfish swarmed throughout its pores and skin. Much more unsettling was the situation of its tail, which had been almost severed from the physique.”

One other grisly picture from the article describes a blue whale “discovered draped over the bow of a container vessel within the harbor within the capital, Colombo…”

20 whale carcasses had been seen final yr across the island in accordance with the New York Instances article and that could possibly be simply the tip of the iceberg. The article goes on to say, “As a result of blue whales typically sink quickly after they’re struck, most such deaths go unrecorded, and Dr. Calambokidis says the true quantity ‘could possibly be 10 or 20 occasions’ the quantity seen.”

What’s being executed about this downside? Studying an article on ColomboPage: Sri Lanka Web Newspaper, it could seem not a lot.

Transferring the delivery lane farther out to sea might assist stop many cargo carriers from colliding with whales, however in accordance with the ColomboPage article, “Sri Lanka Minister of Fisheries Rajitha Senaratne says that the worldwide delivery route off Sri Lanka’s southern coast won’t be shifted.”

Sri Lanka’s concern with transferring the delivery lane farther out to sea, in accordance with the article, is that it could negatively have an effect on the business worth of Sri Lanka’s newly constructed Hambantota harbor.

On the identical time, Sri Lanka authorities is attempting to extend tourism, utilizing whale watching as a serious draw in accordance the New York Instances article talked about above. The whale watching boats could possibly be driving the whales into the delivery lanes in growing numbers.

There aren’t any rules set in place like now we have right here within the U.S. for holding a distance from the whales off the coast of Sri Lanka.

However one thing is being executed. Marine biologist Asha de Vos is main a cost of researching and defending the blue whales off the coast of Sri Lanka. Hopefully, her work will proceed to realize extra help which is able to in the long run be good for each the blue whale inhabitants off the coast Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka itself, and for the shippers transporting their ocean freight cargo throughout the delivery lane there.

Take a while to take a look at Asha de Vos’ weblog.

The New York Instances has this nice video about marine biologist, Asha de Vos finding out and attempting to avoid wasting these large creatures within the waters off Sri Lanka.

And bear in mind, when you’ve got cargo to ship internationally, Common Cargo Administration is at all times prepared to present you a free freight price quote. We additionally supply marine delivery insurance coverage to guard you in case your cargo’s service vessel hits a blue whale and the cargo is broken.