Maritime transport is one of the most influential drivers of global economic activity, yet it is also a significant contributor to the environmental pressures that characterize what the United Nations refers to as the triple planetary crisis.
This report presents the findings of an updated 2025 case study led by Whale Seeker, True North Marine, and the Marine Mammal Special Interest Group of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST).
The study evaluates a nature-integrated routing model for a transatlantic voyage between Montréal, Canada, and Le Havre, France. The model incorporates ecological sensitivity layers, speed optimization, habitat vulnerability indices, and modern routing algorithms to identify operational adjustments that reduce the environmental footprint of shipping while maintaining commercial viability.