Cruise ship struck and killed whale in Alaska?

[relientKitten]

I found it interesting to read that ships try to avoid contact with whales by simply looking for them, and relying on communication from other vessels that report seeing them.

 

I always thought they had sophisticated instruments to handle that.

 

Has anyone heard any more specific information about this latest incident? Specifically, the health of the whale when it was struck?

 

I was on a small-vessel whale-watching tour a few weeks ago. Even the small boats mostly use sight and communication. Our guide stated that they have sonar but it only worked in a small arc straight down and has a limited distance--by the time a creature shows up, it could be too late.

[AkSusan]

On the news last night the preliminary findings is that it was dead when the Sapphire Princess hit it. The full necropsy isn't due for a while, but prelim is that it was dead.

 

Same thing with the Sapphire last year, the whale it hit was also dead.

 

Susan in Anchorage :)

[Putterdude]

This is all over the Princess forum and of course is wonderful news .... thanks for your post.

[whale-watcher]

On the news last night the preliminary findings is that it was dead when the Sapphire Princess hit it. The full necropsy isn't due for a while, but prelim is that it was dead.

 

Same thing with the Sapphire last year, the whale it hit was also dead.

 

Susan in Anchorage :)

 

True, the necropsy suggested that the whale was dead when it was hit by the Sapphire princess, but also showed a missing pectoral fin, thought to be due to an earlier boat propeller injury...so still may have died as a result of a ship strike (but not the sapphire princess).

 

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/080410/loc_690690774.shtml