Yang Ming Earns Recognition for Safeguarding Blue Whales and Skies

Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. (Yang Ming) has been consistently committed to marine ecological conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Company was honored in 2026 with the Sapphire Award, the highest recognition in the Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies program. Led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this program recognizes vessel operators who reduce speeds to protect endangered whales and improve air quality. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the Company, as it is the fifth time Yang Ming has received this prestigious award. Representing Yang Ming’s tireless efforts, Mr. Andy Lin, Senior Manager of Marine Operations of Yang Ming (America) Corp., accepted the award during the ceremony held in Oakland.
 
Since 2016, Yang Ming has supported the Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies Program by voluntarily reducing vessel speeds to 10 knots or less in ecologically sensitive areas off the coast of California, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey Bay, and Southern California. These efforts aim to prevent collisions with migrating blue, fin, and humpback whales, reduce harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx), minimize underwater noise pollution, and ultimately mitigate impacts on the marine environment and coastal communities. Yang Ming's continued contributions have once again earned the program’s highest honor, the Sapphire Award, for four consecutive years, demonstrating its dedication to protecting ocean biodiversity.
 
Driven by a steadfast commitment to protecting biodiversity and the global environment, Yang Ming integrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14: Life Below Water) as a core element of its sustainability strategy. The Company continues to advance its sustainability goals through concrete actions, while fostering environmental awareness among its employees via education and volunteer programs. Yang Ming believes that every step taken toward environmental sustainability is vital for the future. The company remains dedicated to promoting environmental consciousness, safeguarding precious marine life and ecological balance, and creating a better, sustainable world. 

< Korea Shipping Gazette >