Experiencing Damage In The Steering And Lambung Sections After Being 'attacked' By Killer Whales, This Sailing Ship Was Evacuated To The Port

The killer whale damaged a sailing ship off the coast of southern Spain, the local maritime rescue service said on Thursday, adding to the number of orca attacks on ships recorded this year on the coast of Spain and the Portuguese.

A group of orca whales broke the wheel and stabbed the hull after hitting the Mustique Sailing Ship on its way to Gibraltar in the early hours of Thursday, sending four of its crew to contact Spanish authorities for help, a maritime rescue service spokesman said.

The service deployed a fast reaction ship and a helicopter carrying a hull pump to assist the 20-meter-long (66-foot) ship, which sailed under the British flag, he added. The Mustique ship was pulled to Barbate port in Cadiz Province, for repair.

According to the GTOA research group, which tracks the population of Iberian sub-species, the incident occurred after at least 20 interactions in this month alone in the Gibraltar Strait between small vessels and highly social peak predators. In 2022, there were 207 reported interactions, GTOA data showed.

Earlier in May, the cruise ship Alboran totaled the same impact of three orca whales half a nautical mile from Barbate. The ship could not be pulled because it was submerged in the flood and was left adrift until it sank.

Guidelines issued by the Spanish Ministry of Transport stipulate that whenever ships observe changes in orca behavior, such as sudden changes in direction or speed, they must leave the area as soon as possible and avoid further disruption to the animal during maneuvers.

Any interaction between ships and orca whales should be reported to authorities, the ministry added.

It is known, although known as killer whales, endangered orcas are part of the dolphin family. They can measure up to eight meters and weigh up to six tons as adults.

🎥 WATCH: A video shared by April Boyes on social media shows the pod stalking the yacht off Gibraltar, before causing severe damage, leaving the crew unable to steer the boat pic.twitter.com/Pnpp5jUVai

— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) May 27, 2023

WATCH: A video shared by April Boyes on social media shows the pod tapping the yacht off Gibraltar, before case damage, leaving the crew unable to steer the boat pic.twitter.com/Pnpp5jUVai