Cruise ships are going to have to slow down in Alaska. A speed limit has been put in place for cruise ships and other vessels in Alaska's Glacier Bay in order to protect the wildlife like humpback whales.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Acting Superintendent Tom VandenBerg announced on Tuesday that all vessels, including cruise ships, cannot go faster than 13 knots, effective immediately. The speed limit applies to certain areas of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. It will specifically apply to lower Glacier Bay to protect numerous humpback whales that have been spotted in that area.
In addition to the speed limit, vessels more than 18-feet-long are restricted to a mid-channel course or 1 nautical mile offshore.
VandenBerg announced that there were at least 14 humpbacks seen over the past few days in lower Glacier Bay. The whales are feeding in the area.
The designated whale waters, where the speed limits are in effect include the waters extending from the mouth of Glacier Bay to an area parallel with the northern tip of Strawberry Island and the northern tip of Lars Island.
"Boaters should proceed cautiously in all areas where whales may be present because whales may surface in unexpected locations, posing a hazard to both the vessel and the whale. Vessels are prohibited from operating within ¼ nautical mile of a humpback whale in Park waters, including those Park waters outside Glacier Bay proper. In addition, vessel operators positioned within ½ nautical mile of a humpback whale are prohibited from altering their course or speed in a manner that results in decreasing the distance between the whale and the vessel. Speed and course restrictions in whale waters are intended to reduce the disruption of feeding humpback whales and to lower the risk of whale/vessel collisions, as authorized by Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart N, 13.1174.," a statement released by the National Parks Service read.
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