Antwerp (Brussels Morning) – Antwerp Central Station features a blue whale balloon as part of a project highlighting the importance of whales in fighting climate change and promoting ocean conservation.
There is a big blue whale balloon on Antwerp Central Station . It’s part of a project by the Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association to show how important whales are for the climate. Whales are super important in the sea. They help keep the ocean healthy by capturing carbon and supporting lots of different sea animals. By showing off the whales in a big way the Royal Belgian Shipowners Association wants to remind everyone how crucial it is to protect them and take care of the oceans. Environmentalist said that this thing not only looks good but also reminds us to protect sea animals for our planet and future. It shows how everything in nature is connected and tells us to take care of the environment.
What is the significance of the giant blue whale balloon at Antwerp Central Station and its future destinations?
Whales help fight global warming by taking in a bunch of CO2. Whales die each year from ocean because plastic and ships accidentally hitting them. Even though whales are big around 30 meters long they’re still way smaller than ships in the ocean. That’s why the KBRV brought a fake whale named Star from America to Europe for the first time. It’s 26 meters long, 5 meters wide and 5 meters tall. In America and Canada they’ve been doing this for a while because those big whales are mostly there. The fin whale has been traveling around there for 10 years. The owner wants more people in Europe to know about it because lots of shipping companies in Europe own big ships.
GPS information plays a crucial role for ships in avoiding whales based on data from biologists. Biologists provide specific whale locations which are then integrated into navigational systems. This enables ships to receive real-time recommendations such as reducing speed during certain seasons or in specific areas or adjusting their routes altogether. These recommendations are automatically forwarded to ships well in advance allowing them to proactively avoid whale zones. This integration of biological data with GPS technology enhances maritime safety while promoting marine conservation efforts effectively.
After Antwerp the big blue whale will go to Denmark, London and Cyprus, and more places. The Federal Mobility Public Service is interested too. They plan to show it at an event in Bruges in October.
