Killer Whales: A Common Enemy For Shipping Enterprises
Killer whales are often referred to as blue whales, a name which comes from the Scientific name: Orcinus orca. Although they are not considered a threat to humans in their natural habitat, killer whales can still eat anything that come its way, which means that this huge creature can be a hazard for shipping as well. In order to save marine wildlife and protect the ocean’s sustainability, international shipping companies are working round the clock to avoid using killer whales as cargo ships deliver products to different parts of the globe.
Most people know that killer whales live in the cold seas around Alaska and Canada. However, very little is known about these magnificent creatures. Killer whales are among one of the largest predatory fish species, growing up to forty feet long (with a tail). They are known to feed on a variety of fish including herring, sailfish, mahi and halibut. They can also eat small mammals like calves, porpoises, hippos, sharks and other large fish.
There have been reports of two possible types of killer whale. One is the Southern Right Whale which has a population of around 2021 and the other is the Polar Right Whale. The latter is a bigger predator with an annual rate of catch of nearly five million tons. These massive whales are considered a greater danger to shipping vessels than even the largest whale which could weigh hundreds of tons.
Because of their size, these killer whales tend to gather near shipping channels when releasing their cargo. This results in great loss of life especially for fishermen. The whales are known to slam into the ships causing extensive damage not only to the ship but also to its crew. It is said that one out of every three occasions that a boat is hit by a whale has resulted in fatalities.
As mentioned earlier, Southern Right and Polar Right Whales differ in their feeding patterns. The Southern Right whale feeds once a year while the Polar whale feeds only during winter. Scientists believe that this behaviour is a result of the stress that the killer whales go through as they travel around the world. However, this theory remains unproven. No direct relation has been found between whales and shipping accidents.
If you want to know more about killer whales or any other kind of whale then it is best that you should consult a marine biologist who will be able to help you out on identifying the animal and give you a proper advice. It is important that you should always carry out proper research before you start operating a boat so that you don’t end up in a situation that might lead to a loss of life. Once you get proper information about the nature of the marine creature and how it reproduces then you will be in a position to take the appropriate actions in order to avoid any kind of tragedy befalling your shipping vessel.