5 Critical Ways Cruise Ships Are Fighting Whale Strikes After The May 2024 Sei Whale Tragedy

Jan 10, 2026 • minute read

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The devastating collision between a massive cruise ship and an endangered whale is a tragedy that continues to plague the global maritime industry. The issue was thrust back into the international spotlight in May 2024 when the cruise liner *MSC Meraviglia* arrived at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in New York, carrying the lifeless body of a 44-foot (13-meter) sei whale draped across its bulbous bow. This horrifying visual served as a stark, unavoidable reminder of the silent epidemic of ship strikes, prompting urgent calls for stricter regulations and the immediate adoption of cutting-edge technology to protect vulnerable cetaceans.

The incident involving the *MSC Meraviglia* and the endangered sei whale—a species already decimated by commercial whaling—highlights a critical conservation challenge. While the cruise industry represents only a fraction of global shipping traffic, the sheer size and speed of these vessels make them lethal threats in migration corridors and feeding grounds. The focus today is on implementing effective, real-time measures to prevent these catastrophic encounters before they happen, moving beyond voluntary guidelines to mandatory, enforceable safety standards.

The Shocking May 2024 Incident: A 44-Foot Tragedy

The discovery of the deceased whale on the bow of the *MSC Meraviglia* in May 2024 immediately triggered an investigation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. The animal was identified as a sub-adult female sei whale (*Balaenoptera borealis*), a species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Vessel: MSC Meraviglia (a large cruise ship).
Location: Arrived at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, New York City.
Date of Discovery: May 4, 2024.
Species Struck: Sei Whale (*Balaenoptera borealis*), an endangered species.
Mechanism of Injury: The whale was found entangled across the bulbous bow, a protruding structure designed to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. This part of the ship is often the point of impact, delivering a fatal blow that can go unnoticed by the crew on the bridge.

The sheer scale of the incident—a 44-foot whale killed by a vessel designed for leisure—galvanized marine conservation groups to demand immediate action. The tragic event underscores the fact that even a single ship strike can have a disproportionate impact on critically endangered populations.

The Silent Epidemic: Understanding Ship Strike Mortality

The May 2024 incident is not an isolated event; it is merely one of the few that are actually documented. Experts estimate that a staggering 20,000 whales are killed or maimed annually worldwide due to vessel strikes. Worse yet, this number is believed to represent only 5% to 17% of total mortality, as most whale carcasses sink after being struck, leaving the vast majority of collisions unreported and uncounted.

The lethality of a ship strike is directly related to a vessel's speed. Studies have consistently shown that reducing a ship's speed to 10 knots or less dramatically decreases the likelihood of a lethal collision. Above 14 knots, the probability of a fatal strike rises sharply. The cruise industry, with its tight schedules and high operating speeds, frequently operates in high-risk zones, intersecting with critical feeding and migration routes for species like the North Atlantic right whale (NARW) and the fin whale.

The design of modern cruise ships, particularly the presence of the bulbous bow, exacerbates the problem. While hydrodynamically efficient, this blunt, underwater protrusion acts like a battering ram, delivering a massive amount of force directly to the whale's body, often leading to immediate death and entanglement. The whale's body can then be carried for miles, as seen with the *MSC Meraviglia*.

5 Critical Ways the Maritime Industry is Fighting Back

In the wake of increased scrutiny following the May 2024 strike, the focus has shifted from mere awareness to the implementation of concrete, enforceable solutions. The following five measures represent the current state-of-the-art in ship strike mitigation, combining regulatory pressure with technological innovation.

1. Mandatory and Voluntary Speed Restrictions (The 10-Knot Rule)

The most effective measure is speed reduction. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and national bodies like NOAA have established mandatory Vessel Speed Restrictions (VSRs) in critical habitats. For instance, the US government enforces a mandatory 10-knot speed limit in specific Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) along the East Coast to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Furthermore, voluntary speed reduction schemes have been adopted in other high-risk areas, such as the North-West Mediterranean Sea, to protect local whale populations.

2. AI-Enabled Real-Time Whale Detection Systems

Technology is rapidly evolving to provide captains with real-time alerts. Systems like Whale Safe utilize a combination of data sources to predict and detect whale presence. This often involves:

Hydroacoustic Technology: Underwater microphones (hydrophones) listen for the distinct calls of various whale species.
Thermal Cameras: High-resolution thermal cameras mounted on the ship track temperature changes in the water, identifying the heat signature of a whale near the surface.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI algorithms process the acoustic and visual data to filter out noise and confirm a whale sighting, providing near-real-time alerts to the bridge crew.

3. Enhanced Bridge Officer Training and Partnerships

Leading cruise lines are actively working with marine conservation charities to improve crew awareness and response protocols. For example, MSC Cruises, the operator of the *Meraviglia*, has partnered with organizations like ORCA to introduce specialized training programs for deck officers. These programs focus on identifying whale behavior, understanding migration patterns, and implementing best practices for evasive maneuvers in designated high-risk zones.

4. Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs)

Unlike static Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs), Dynamic Management Areas (DMAs) are temporary, flexible zones established when three or more whales are sighted in close proximity. These areas trigger temporary speed restrictions or routing changes for vessels, allowing authorities to react quickly to the unpredictable movements of cetaceans and provide a more adaptive conservation strategy.

5. Vessel Re-Routing and Collaborative Mapping

International bodies are working to permanently adjust shipping lanes to avoid known, high-density whale feeding and breeding grounds. By collaborating with the IMO and other maritime stakeholders, conservationists aim to shift the world's busiest shipping routes by just a few nautical miles to significantly reduce the overlap between ships and whales. A recent study suggested that protecting just 2.5% of the world's oceans could save 90% of large whales from vessel strikes.

The May 2024 incident served as a potent, tragic reminder of the ongoing conflict between global commerce and marine life conservation. While the sheer number of ship strike mortality events remains alarmingly high, the good news is that both regulatory bodies and the shipping industry are finally adopting the necessary tools—from the simple but effective 10-knot rule to sophisticated hydroacoustics—to chart a safer course for the world's magnificent whales. The pressure on cruise lines to prioritize conservation over schedule adherence is now greater than ever.

5 Critical Ways Cruise Ships Are Fighting Whale Strikes After the May 2024 Sei Whale Tragedy

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