Advancing whale‑ship collision mitigation through technology and ethical maritime practices

Last week, on 1 July, the AIR Centre took part in the IMarEST Ethics in the Maritime Industry Symposium in Southampton, United Kingdom. The event brought together professionals from regulation, engineering, academia, and industry to reflect on the ethical responsibilities shaping today’s maritime sector, from sustainability and emerging technologies to responsible leadership at sea.

Adriano Lima presented on behalf of the Atlantic Whale Deal, an EU co‑funded Interreg Atlantic Area project, sharing the stage with Inês Órfão from MARE/ARNET at ARDITI. Their talk, “Atlantic Whale Deal: Mitigating Whale‑Ship Collisions Through Technology and Synergy between Researchers and the Maritime Industries”, was delivered under the symposium’s theme of Environmental Ethics and Sustainability at Sea. Adriano highlighted the project’s progress in whale detection technologies and the development of interactive tools for vessel‑whale strike mitigation, central to reducing collision risks in the Northeast Atlantic.

As maritime traffic continues to grow, ship strikes remain a major threat to large whales and the ecosystems they support. The Atlantic Whale Deal project is addressing this challenge through technological innovation and close collaboration with maritime stakeholders, promoting ethical and sustainable practices that benefit both marine biodiversity and vessel operations.

The symposium offered a valuable platform to advance this message, fostering dialogue between researchers, technology developers, and industry stakeholders committed to more responsible and sustainable maritime practices.

[PC, 6 July 2026]