Neptune Lines Implements Rerouting in the Hellenic Trench

A coalition consisting of IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), OceanCare, Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute and WWF Greece approached Neptune Lines to raise awareness for the plight of sperm whales off the west coast of Greece. This small, endangered whale population is under threat from collisions with ships, known as ‘ship strikes’, which are a major cause of death and threaten the population with extinction.

“If there can be such a thing, ‘Neptune Lines’ decision is a Christmas present for the sperm whales in the Hellenic Trench. As this renowned shipping company now follows other major players from the maritime transport sector, it must be on the sperm whales’ wishlist that all other companies do follow and that Greece ensures vessels navigate outside of the whales’ home where possible. For us humans, seeing it this way might be a nice analogy; for sperm whales, it is a matter of survival,” says Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Relations at OceanCare.

“For us, the ocean is our home. We honour and protect it. We safeguard one of the Mediterranean’s most emblematic species and actively contribute to shaping a more sustainable future for shipping and the marine environment, by adopting rerouting measures in the Hellenic Trench. The rerouting applies in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, west of the Strofades Islets in the Ionian Sea, one of the high-risk areas for ship strikes in the Hellenic Trench. Our vessels cross this critical whale habitat more than 200 times a year, so this action has a substantial impact. At Neptune Lines’, sustainability lies at the heart of our strategy, and protecting marine biodiversity is our responsibility,” states Ms. Melina Travlos, Chair of the Board of Neptune Group of Companies.

There are now fewer than 200 endangered sperm whales of the eastern Mediterranean sub-population, which are predominantly found in the Hellenic Trench. Scientific studies show that more than half of the stranded whales in the area bear signs of fatal collisions with large ships. Research also indicates that for every whale recorded as fatally injured by a strike, as many as 20 more may go undetected.

Research shows that if all ships adhered to a safe route, away from areas with high whale densities, the overall risk of collisions with sperm whales could be reduced by an estimated 70%. This underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to protect one of the Mediterranean’s most endangered marine species.