Matson Adopts Whale Detection Tech to Protect Arctic Waters

Matson, a U.S. container shipping company, has reached a product agreement to buy and deploy a whale detection system created at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and commercialized by WhaleSpotter, according to a Nov. 5, 2025 report. The system combines thermal imaging with machine learning algorithms to detect surfacing whales in real time and send alerts to vessel crews so they can slow or alter course to avoid collisions.

Matson has already trialed units and placed orders for additional commercial systems for vessels serving Alaska. Developers say recent refinements have reduced false alerts and that early deployments can detect whales miles away. These capabilities matter to North Slope Borough residents because marine mammals such as bowhead and beluga whales are central to coastal subsistence economies and cultural practices, and ship strikes can directly affect local food security and long term population health.

The detection system operates as a technological layer to complement existing measures, such as voluntary slow zones and regulatory speed restrictions in critical habitat areas. By providing near real time detection, the technology gives ship crews actionable information that can shorten reaction times compared with visual lookouts alone or periodic aerial surveys. For shipping companies the potential benefits go beyond conservation, and include reduced operational risk, lower chances of costly incidents, and improved compliance with wildlife protection requirements.

Adoption by a major carrier serving Alaska could signal broader market shifts. As marine traffic increases in the Bering Sea and Arctic due to longer open water seasons and higher demand for northern routes and ports, the economic calculus for investing in collision avoidance tools is changing. Carriers face not only direct costs from collisions but also growing regulatory scrutiny and potential reputational damage. Tools that demonstrably reduce strikes may alter insurance assessments and influence port and state level policy recommendations.

For coastal communities the implications are practical and social. Fewer ship strikes can help sustain whale populations that underpin subsistence harvests and cultural traditions. At the same time, communities will likely seek formal channels for data sharing and coordination so alerts and routing changes translate into measurable protections on the water. Policymakers at state and federal levels may view technologies like this as part of an integrated strategy, combining monitoring, mandatory routing adjustments where needed, and continued investment in scientific surveys.

Looking ahead, widespread deployment and independent evaluation of detection systems will determine their long term impact. For North Slope Borough residents the Matson decision offers an early example of private sector steps to reduce marine mammal collisions, while highlighting the need for coordinated marine planning that balances shipping growth with local subsistence and conservation priorities.