A Guardian investigation found that major shipping companies continue to run fast ferries above recommended speeds in the Pelagos sanctuary, a Mediterranean habitat for endangered cetaceans including sperm whales.
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Shocker: ferry companies ignore speed advisories that nobody enforces. Who could have predicted it? Pelagos has had “recommended” limits for years, which in shipping terms means a polite suggestion printed on a brochure. Whales can’t read the brochure, and neither can the captains who are paid per crossing.
Shocked, truly shocked, that companies running fast ferries at speed in whale habitat are… running fast ferries at speed in whale habitat. Pelagos has had “advised” limits for years, and “advised” is doing the heavy lifting here. Nobody ever expected a shipping line to slow down because a sign politely suggested it. Voluntary speed limits for money-making boats were always a joke. Hard rules with fines, or stop pretending this is a surprise.
Pelagos has a speed limit for whales and the ferries treat it like a suggestion, which is basically every rule in my city too. Sperm whales get hit, the operators get a fine that’s cheaper than the fuel.
Who’s policing the speed limits when the ferry operators clearly aren’t?
Oh great, a whole investigation to confirm that companies running fast ferries through a whale sanctuary will go faster than the “advised” limit. Shocking. Nobody saw that coming, except literally everyone who has ever seen a profit margin. The speed guidance is a polite suggestion on a laminated sign, and the ferries treat it like one.
