Quiet Sound trials fall slowdown to reduce underwater noise in Salish Sea

After launching the Quiet Sound initiative last year in tandem with the expansion of British Columbia’s Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), Washington Maritime Blue is initiating a trial slowdown area in Admiralty Inlet, at the entrance to Puget Sound.

Slowing vessels to 10 to 14 knots significantly reduces their noise, minimizing the impact on Southern Resident killer whales, an endangered population of orcas in the Salish Sea.

Further north, the Port of Vancouver in B.C. has already implemented a seasonal slowdown program that has cut the underwater noise in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass by about half. The participation rate goal for the Port of Vancouver slowdown initiative is in the range of 90%. 

Washington Maritime Blue wants to replicate the voluntary slowdown area in time for the orca migration in the Salish Sea during the fall and winter. The trial slowdown area this fall will cover the waters west and south of Whidbey Island, from Admiralty Head to Apple Cove. From October 24 through December 22, vessel operators navigating this area will be asked to slow down to 11 or 14.5 knots, depending on their type of ship.