- The dead whale was on the MSC Meraviglia as it approached Brooklyn Harbor.
- A NOAA spokesperson said the incident is being investigated.
This is the shocking moment a cruise ship arrives in New York City with a 44ft endangered dead whale stuck on its bow.
MSC Cruises confirmed that the dead whale was discovered on the bow of the MSC Meraviglia on Saturday as it approached Brooklyn Harbor before sailing to New England and Canada.
The endangered sei whale, one of the largest internationally protected whale species, is usually found in deeper waters, away from shore, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries spokesperson Andrea told DailyMail.com Gomez.
It is unclear at this time whether the whale was already dead when it was hit by the ship. Gomez said they won’t know until they get the results of the necropsy, which can take anywhere from several weeks to months.
On Tuesday, the nonprofit Atlantic Marine Conservation Society performed a necropsy and confirmed the whale was a mature female.
The endangered whale, identified as Sei whale, was seen trapped in the bow of the ship. Sei whales are usually seen in deeper waters, away from the coast.
The whale has been identified as a 44-foot mature female. It is unclear at this time if the ship struck the whale or if the whale had already died.
The nonprofit organization said the necropsy examination revealed that the whale’s right flipper had broken bones and there was evidence of tissue trauma along the right shoulder blade region.
The whale was relocated and towed to the shore of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to allow better access to heavy equipment and resources to perform a necropsy, NOAA said.
The non-profit organization said the necropsy examination revealed that the whale’s right flipper had broken bones and there was evidence of trauma to the tissue along the right shoulder blade region.
The whale’s gastrointestinal tract was full of food. Most other organs were sampled, including for biotoxin analysis and other life history studies.
They said samples were collected that will be sent for histopathological analysis. The tissue and bone samples collected will help biologists determine whether the vessel interaction occurred before or after death, the administration said.
Between 2019 and 2023, 22 large whales with suspected vessel collision injuries were reported in New York and New Jersey, according to NOAA.
“There have been no records from our region that mention another animal being observed on the bow of a ship,” they said. ‘But a fin whale was observed in 2021 in Newark Harbor and it is suspected as it is a strange place for that animal. Again, not confirmed or observed.”
MSC Meraviglia cruise ship leaves New York Harbor in December 2023
A spokesperson for MCS Cruises said in a statement that they have comprehensive measures in place to help avoid collisions, such as training all of our deck officers with the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA).
“We are ‘deeply saddened by the loss of marine life,’ they said. ‘We follow regulations designed to protect whales and other marine species.’
‘This includes altering itineraries in certain regions to avoid whales and we will continue to evaluate and update our procedures with our partners and authorities.
NOAA said, “Mariners operating along the East Coast of the United States are encouraged to slow their vessels, remain alert, and report any sightings of right whales or dead, injured, or entangled whales.”
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) is the lead on this case and one of the federally authorized marine mammal response organizations based in New York.
Its local partners include the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, which is the stranding partner in New Jersey, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Environmental Protection of New Jersey, Monmouth County Department of Environmental Protection. Public Works and Engineering, and Sea Bright Fire Rescue Team.
