Shannon Estuary ships asked to cut speed after 'unprecedented' sighting of humpback whale

The IWDG are tracking the humpback whale and are using drones to measure and possibly identify it. File photo

Large ships in the Shannon Estuary have been asked to reduce their speed to avoid hitting a humpback whale which has been spotted in an Irish river for the first time ever.

Fears have been raised of potential “ship-strike” if speeds in the estuary are not reduced to 10 knots or 19km/h, which could damage vessels and injure or kill the young whale.