COSCO SHIPPING was awarded the prestigious Sapphire Award, the highest level of recognition in the 2024 season of the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies  program, at the program’s 10th anniversary celebration and awards ceremony held at the Port of Los Angeles. The event brought together leaders from the shipping industry and environmental organizations to commemorate a decade of progress in marine environmental protection.

Jointly promoted by various government and environmental organizations, the BWBS program is a voluntary vessel speed reduction initiative aimed at reducing ship strike risks to endangered whales, cutting underwater noise pollution, and lowering greenhouse gases along the California coast.

As one of the largest container shipping operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area, COSCO SHIPPING Lines (North America) has been an active supporter of the program since 2018. In the 2024 season, the company achieved 89% of total transit distance at or below 10 knots within designated speed reduction zones, earning it the top-tier Sapphire Award.

This recognition highlights COSCO SHIPPING’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and its leadership in the global shipping industry’s transition to sustainable operations. By consistently aligning its fleet practices with marine conservation goals, the company is actively contributing to the protection of large marine mammals and the health of ocean ecosystems.

Looking ahead, COSCO SHIPPING and its North American subsidiary will continue to participate in the BWBS program and strengthen efforts to promote low-speed, low-emission vessel operations, further fulfilling its mission of advancing green, eco-friendly shipping across the globe.