Can A Whale Damage A Cruise Ship?

Cruisers, particularly those sailing offshore, are often afraid of hitting whales, as all sizes and types of vessels, from large commercial vessels to 10-foot jet skis, have the potential to collide with marine life. Whales are susceptible to collisions with marine vessels, which can cause serious injury or death and can damage vessels. Mariners in Glacier Bay must be vigilant and may need to make active avoidance. Orcas are attacking boats and sometimes sinking them, and a 2022 study found that out of 49 attacks that year, whales damaged ships in about 73% of interactions. Marine experts have identified the whale as an endangered sei whale, which is an endangered species.

Collisions with vessels can be fatal, and when a whale or sea turtle is hit by a ship or another vessel, these gentle creatures are likely to die or suffer a severe injury. The 44-foot-long whale corpse was an endangered sei whale, which will now be examined to determine how it died. Ships are a major risk to whales worldwide, and researchers are only beginning to understand the extent of death caused by ocean-traveling vessels.