Every year, thousands of whales are fatally struck by ships in increasingly busy oceans and commercialized. Fortunately, as Phys.org reports, researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts have developed a solution to keep these gentle giants safe: ship-mounted cameras that can detect whales remotely.

Cameras use thermal imaging technology to spot whales disturbing the surface by swimming or blowing their breath. Images from the cameras are fed into an integrated artificial intelligence system designed to distinguish the surface activity of whales as opposed to that of boats, waves or other marine animals.

With the technologywhales can be detected several kilometers away, giving captains time to change course or slow their ship’s speed.

Matson Navigation Company, based in Hawaii, is already testing the cameras on three of its container ships. One vessel reported 1,169 whale and dolphin detections in the first three months of operation; some whales were found as high as 6,500 meters (four miles).

“This initial data is very exciting for our team, as it gives us concrete feedback on the performance of the thermal infrared system on a large container ship platform. » said Daniel Zitterbart, a WHOI scientist.

More than 20,000 whales are hit by ships and killed every year around the world. WHOI further clarified that approximately 80 endangered whales are fatally struck each year off the west coast of the United States alone.

Some particularly busy trade routes send ships up and down the west coast of the United States. Hawaiiplacing them right in the middle of migration routes used by at least 16 different species of whales, according to WHOI.

“We are committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner, and that includes finding ways to reduce the risk of collisions with whales,” said Matt Cox, Chairman and CEO of Matson. “Our vessels navigate some of the most pristine areas in the Pacific and we look forward to working with Woods Hole on other environmentally beneficial projects.”

“Thermal imaging systems are a powerful tool for real-time whale detection,” Zitterbart said. “Used alone or in conjunction with other proven protections like passive acoustic monitoring, this technology can significantly reduce the risk of vessel strikes and be a positive force in the protection of marine animals.”

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