Whale Protection Project Developed in Espírito Santo Wins National Award

Vports Initiative Uses Port Monitoring System to Prevent Vessel Collisions with Humpback Whales Along the Coast of Espírito Santo.

Vports began the year with national recognition in the field of sustainability. The company won second place at the 2025 ANTAQ Award, in the Innovative Initiatives category, with a whale protection project developed in partnership with the Instituto Baleia Jubarte and the international organization Great Whale Conservancy, in the waters off Espírito Santo.

The initiative uses VTMIS, a maritime traffic monitoring system considered pioneering and unique in Brazil, to protect humpback whales that migrate along the coast of Espírito Santo between June and November, the species’ breeding season. Through cameras and sensors installed in the anchorage area and at the access points to ports in the metropolitan region, teams are able to alert ship crews to the presence of whales, reducing the risk of collisions.

As part of the technical cooperation agreement between the institutions, a guidance manual was developed for vessels arriving at ports during the whale season.

Recommendations include avoiding nighttime navigation whenever possible — when whales tend to remain closer to the surface — ensuring maximum vessel maneuverability, and reducing speed to below eight knots in areas near the port.

According to Vports’ CEO, Gustavo Serrão, the recognition reinforces the possibility of reconciling development with environmental preservation. “Sustainability is at the center of our decisions, and this increasingly enables us to grow competitively, generate value for society, and contribute to a more sustainable future,” he said.

According to Vports’ Sustainability Manager, Camilla Bridi, the partnership with environmental organizations made it possible to bring the “Whale Safe Ports” concept to Brazil and implement collision-prevention measures. Whales also play a relevant role in mitigating climate change, acting as carbon sinks and contributing to ocean fertilization through the so-called “whale pump,” a process that enriches surface waters with nutrients and stimulates phytoplankton growth.

Michael Fishbach, Director of Great Whale Conservancy, highlighted the importance of institutional cooperation. “It is therefore necessary to seek the harmonization of procedures to minimize the risk of incidents, which can only be achieved through the cooperation and engagement of the relevant companies and port authorities,” he said.

Currently, the humpback whale population in Brazil is estimated at around 40,000 individuals, after decades of recovery since the period of commercial whaling, when numbers fell to fewer than 1,000 animals. The species can reach up to 16 meters in length and 40 tons in weight. The coasts of Espírito Santo and Bahia are considered one of the main breeding grounds for the species in the Atlantic.

According to Paulo Rodrigues, from Instituto Baleia Jubarte, scientific monitoring is continuous. “We map the whales. We see where they are, how they behave, how far they are from the coast, sighting time, and various biological characteristics, such as the unique markings on their tail flukes. We identify each individual, each group, and also what they are doing here. The partnership with Vports only strengthens our work and provides yet another ally in protecting these cetaceans,” he explained.

The 10th edition of the ANTAQ Award, themed “Solutions for Climate Change,” recognizes studies, projects, and best practices aimed at improving the provision of waterway transport services in Brazil.

The award ceremony was attended by Vports’ CEO, Gustavo Serrão; Legal and Regulatory Director, Adriana Pessotti; Sustainability Manager, Camilla Bridi; Environmental Coordinator, Alan Ribeiro; VTMIS Coordinator, Agostinho Sobral; as well as Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, and Paulo Rodrigues, Coordinator of the Instituto Baleia Jubarte.