Large Whale Ship Strike Database

Aleria S. Jensen and Gregory K. Silber

Office of Protected Resources

National Marine Fisheries Service

Silver Spring, Maryland

Contributors: John Calambokidis, Cathy Campbell, Joe Cordaro, Ray Deiter, Margaret

Akamine, Connie Ewald, Dave Flannagan, John Ford, Pat Gerrior, Joseph Green, Frances

Gulland, Diana Gutierrez, Michael Henshaw, John E. Heyning, T.E. Lawlor, T.D. Lewis, Jenny

Litz, William McClellan, Richard Merrick, Brent Norberg, Daniel K. Odell, D. Jeffrey Passer,

Nancy Read, Lloyd Richards, Teri Rowles, Ray Sautter, and Charles D. Woodhouse

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-25

January 2004
 Acknowledgments

 We recognize the work of those in the field, notably members of the marine mammal

stranding network, some of whom are listed on the first page. Much information on ship strikes

to large whales would not be available were it not for the dedication and expertise of those who

assess the condition of stranded and floating dead animals and maintain these data. Our

appreciation also to the efforts of the many NOAA Fisheries staff who searched out ship strike

records in response to a request for data. David Laist and colleagues’ Marine Mammal Science

paper on collisions between whales and ships was an invaluable source for ship strike records

and provided a significant portion of reports in this database, as was the work by Peter Best and

others on the same subject. Finally, the authors recognize those conscientious mariners who

willingly report strike occurrences and communicate the details of such incidents to marine

mammal protection agencies and organizations. Donna Wieting encouraged us to undertake this

work and helped provide the time for us to complete it. 

Literature citation should read as follows:

Jensen, A.S. and G.K. Silber. 2003. Large Whale Ship Strike Database. U.S. Department of

Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum. NMFS-OPR- , 37 pp.

Additional copies may be obtained from:

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Protected Resources

1315 East-West Highway, 13th Floor

Silver Spring, MD 20910

301-713-2322

This document can also be downloaded from NMFS website: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/overview/publicat.html
1

Introduction

Some human-related threats to endangered

large whale species are diminishing, and a

number of large whale populations are

increasing in abundance. However, injuries

and deaths resulting from ship collisions with

whales remain a significant threat. In North

Atlantic right whales, for example, ship

strikes are a primary culprit in the slowed

recovery of a highly depleted population.

Several papers provide accounts of mortality

in large whales due to ship strikes (Laist et

al., 2001; Best et al., 2001; Knowlton and

Kraus, 2001). These papers review ship

strike records through 2000, 1997 and 1999,

respectively. We have built on these

accounts by assembling a data base of all

known ship strikes worldwide through 2002;

a number of our records do not appear in

previous accounts. Likely, many ship strikes

go undetected or unreported as they may

occur in remote areas or struck whales may

drift out to sea. Thus, the actual number of

strikes is undoubtedly much greater than

reported here. Nonetheless, the information

we provide is, to our knowledge, the most

comprehensive set of data to date on this

subject. In the geographic scope and in the

range of species effected, the data base

illustrates the extent of the threat to large

whale species.

The intention of this report is to make

accessible the known information on ship

strikes to large whales world-wide. We have

not attempted to provide an extensive

analysis of such records herein, as a thorough

discussion of a number of these records can

be found in Laist et al. (2001). Rather, we

have synthesized ship strike reports to large

whales into a comprehensive database to

centralize the knowledge base of such

incidents. These records indicate that

collisions between whales and ships are a

world-wide phenomenon which warrants

attention. 

Materials and Methods

This database is based on a public request

for information that NOAA Fisheries

received for large whale ship strike records

from 1975 to present (2002). Agency staff

from NOAA Fisheries’ Northeast,

Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska,

and Hawaii Fisheries Science Centers and

Regional Offices contributed records to this

report. In addition, NOAA Fisheries Office

of Law Enforcement regional offices

provided records of ship strike based on

agency investigations (pending cases

excluded). Many agency staff worked to the

best of their abilities to fulfill this request,

but it is possible that some records were

overlooked and thus are not included. 

In compiling this database, records of ship

strikes were drawn from ship reports, marine

mammal stranding reports, and NOAA

Office of Law Enforcement reports. 

Following the initial set of data received,

additional ship strike records were sought

for the purposes of this synthesis through

personal communications and a review of

the literature on this issue (in particular,

Laist et al., 2001; Best et al., 2001). Our

records include information through October

2002. 

Direct reports from ships, crew and captains

are the most reliable source of information

on an actual ship strike incident. In these

cases, wherein the ship’s crew was aware of
2

the strike, it is often possible to obtain

information on ship speed, damage to a ship,

and relative degree of severity of the strike to

the animal. Ship strike information can also

be determined from stranded or floating dead

whales in which definitive evidence of a

massive internal or external trauma is

documented (i.e., lacerations from propellers,

fractures, hemorrhaging). However, these

data are not always definitive as to whether

the strike occurred pre- or post-mortem. In

such cases, there generally is no information

on how, when, or where the strike actually

occurred. A dead stranded whale may drift

considerable distance from the site of the

actual impact. In the absence of a confirmed

location for a ship strike incident, we have

listed the site of stranding or site of discovery

of the floating animal as the collision location

in our database. 

Another type of record is the occurrence of a

ship entering port with a whale carcass

draped across its bow. Generally, in these

instances the ship’s crew was unaware of the

strike. Most often this occurs with large

container, tanker and cruise ships, and a

collision is only determined after the event

when the whale is noticed pinned to a ship’s

bow by a pilot boarding the vessel or

lookouts posted for harbor entry. In 42 of the

known or probable cases of ship strike in our

database, evidence of a collision was only

noticed when a whale was brought into

harbor on the bow of a large vessel. In

certain rare instances, time and location of

impact can be estimated by back-calculating

to correlate with a previously unexplained

decrease in vessel speed. 

Given that crew of large vessels often do not

detect the impact of striking a whale, animals

may be hit and passed over without

observation. Likewise, operators may be

aware of a strike but choose not to report it. 

Therefore, as noted above, it is likely that far

more collisions actually have occurred than

the number reported here.

For the purposes of this report, evidence of

injury or mortality is defined as blood noted

in water; animal seen with cuts, propeller

gashes or severed tailstock; animal observed

sinking after strike indicating death;

fractured skull, jaw, vertebrae;

hemorrhaging, massive bruising or other

injuries noted during necropsy of animal.

Results

The data base contains a total of 292 records

of confirmed or possible ship strikes to large

whales (Table 1). Where available, we have

noted ancillary information such as vessel

type, extent of injury, and vessel speed at

time of impact.

Ship Strikes by Species

Eleven species were confirmed victims of

ship strikes: blue, Bryde’s, finback, gray,

humpback, killer, minke, North Atlantic

right, sei, southern right, and sperm whales 

(Figure 1). Finback whales are the most

often reported species hit (75 records of

strike), followed by humpback (44 records),

North Atlantic right (38 records), gray (24

records), minke (19 records), southern right

(15 records), and sperm whales (17 records). 

Far fewer reports exist of strikes to blue (8

records), Bryde’s (3 records), sei (3 records)

and killer whales (1 record). Several

collision incidents were identified as general

balaenopterid (3 records of strike), while a

large proportion of reported strikes were not

identified to species (42 unknown records).

We note that coastal species (e.g., right and

humpback whales) may be over represented

in our data base, due to a greater likelihood

of near-shore detection of a ship struck

carcass than individuals that may have died
3

at great distances from shore.

Geographic Distribution of Strikes

Ship strikes to large whales occur worldwide. In our records (and those compiled by

others), large whale ship strikes were

recorded in waters off Antarctica, Australia,

Brazil, Canada, the Canary Islands, France,

Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Peru,

Puerto Rico, and South Africa; in the

Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Yellow Seas;

and in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans.

Our records indicate that ship strikes are most

common in North America (Figure 2), but

this is almost certainly biased due to sources

of data from North American stranding

records and enforcement reports. This

finding may also be related to the volume of

ship traffic along North American coasts.

Furthermore, our (the authors) northern

hemisphere location increases the likelihood

that we learn of reports from North America

more readily than elsewhere. 

Collision incidents in waters off the United

States are recorded from almost every coastal

state: Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida,

Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland,

Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,

North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South

Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. 

Collisions also occurred in three National

Marine Sanctuaries (NMS): Stellwagen Bank

NMS (humpback, fin, and right whales),

Channel Islands NMS (gray and several

unidentified whales), and the Hawaiian

Islands Humpback Whale NMS (humpback

whales).

Records indicate that collisions between

vessels and whales in U.S. waters are most

common along the east coast, followed by the

west coast and Alaska/Hawaii (Figure 3). 

Collisions were least common in the Gulf of

Mexico. 

Severity of Strike

Of the total 292 large whale ship strike

reports, 48 (16.4%) resulted in injury to the

animal and 198 (68.0%) were fatal. Thus, a

total of 246 (84.3%) records indicate that

whales that were hit or bear evidence of ship

strike were in fact injured or killed by the

interaction (Figure 4). In most cases the fate

of injured whales is not known.

Additionally, in 39 collision reports

(13.3%), the impact to the whale was

unknown, while in 7 reports (2.4%) there

appeared to be no sign of injury. 

It should be noted that the high injury and

mortality figures for all whales in the

database include numerous records of

stranded or floating animals found dead. 

Injuries on a whale’s dorsal side indicate

that the animal was alive when hit, as dead

whales generally float belly-up and are thus

more likely to be injured ventrally if hit

post-mortem. Although strong evidence

indicates ship strike in the records included

in this database (i.e., propeller marks,

bruises, fractures, hemorrhaging, severed

flukes), fatalities due to ship strike cannot

always be confirmed because it is difficult or

impossible to determine in some of these

cases whether the strike occurred to the

animal pre- or post-mortem. In addition,

because many of our records come from

dead stranded whales (as opposed to reports

from mariners involved in or observing the

striking), the database is weighted toward

ship strikes resulting in death.

Vessel Type

Collisions between ships and whales are

associated with a wide variety of vessel

types. From our database, 134 of 292 cases

of ship strike include information on vessel

type, while in 158 cases the type of ship was
4

unknown. Of the 134 cases of known vessel

type, there are 23 reported incidents (17.1%)

of Navy vessels hitting whales, 20 reports

(14.9%) of ship strike for container/cargo

ships/freighters, 19 (14.2%) reports of ship

strike for whale-watching vessels, and 17

reports (12.7%) for cruise ships/liners (Figure

5). Sixteen reports of ship strike (11.9%) are

attributed to ferries. Nine cases of ship strike

(6.7%) are reported for Coast Guard vessels

and eight cases (6.0%) for tankers. 

Recreational vessels and steamships were

each responsible for seven collisions (5.2%)

in the database, while fishing vessels were

responsible for four records (3.0%) of strike. 

One collision (0.75 %) was reported from

each of the following: dredge boat, research

vessel, pilot boat, and whaling catcher boat. 

Although these data provide valuable

information regarding the wide range of

vessels involved in collisions, care should be

taken in interpreting these numbers. As

noted earlier, captains of large ships, such as

container ships, tankers, and cruise ships may

not be aware that a collision with a whale has

occurred and thus do not report the incident. 

It is also likely that captains of ships of all

sizes who are under no obligation to report,

in fact, do not, out of apathy or fear of

enforcement consequences.

It should be carefully noted that the relatively

high incidence of Navy and Coast Guard

collision reports may be largely a factor of

standardized military and government

reporting practice rather than an actual higher

frequency of collisions relative to other ship

types. These two federal agencies are

actively involved in large whale protection

programs and reporting struck or dead whales

to the National Marine Fisheries Service is

now a part of standard operating practices. 

Ship Speed

Vessel speed at the time of strike was

reported for 58 (19.8%) of the 292 cases in

our database (Figure 6). The range of speeds

at which vessels were operating when a

whale was hit was 2–51 knots; and the mean

speed was 18.1 knots. The mean vessel

speed which resulted in injury or mortality

to the whale was 18.6 knots. Of the 58

cases, 19 (32.8%) resulted in injury to the

whale and 20 (34.5%) resulted in mortality. 

Thus, a total of 39 incidents of ship strike

(67.2%) with speed associated are known to

have resulted in injury or mortality to the

animal. When all 58 reports are grouped by

speed, most vessels were traveling in the

ranges of 13–15 knots, followed by speed

ranges of 16–18 knots and 22-24 knots.

Vessel Damage and Mariner Safety

Thirteen records indicate damage to the

vessel (as reported by the vessel), ranging

from minor to extreme, as a result of impact

with a whale. All of the incidents of vessel

damage for which speeds were recorded

were from collisions at an operating speed

equal to or greater than 10 knots. 

Many of these ships report cracked hulls or

damaged propellers, propeller shafts and

rudders. In one case, an 8 m recreational

Bayliner traveling at 12 knots cracked its

hull when it hit a humpback whale outside

Juneau, Alaska. A 126 m Navy vessel

sustained a 1.6 m tear in the leading edge of

a propeller blade when it struck an

undetermined whale species off southern

California. By far the most extreme

example was that of a 24 m high-speed Navy

vessel, which hit an undetermined whale

species at a speed over 40 knots off Key

West, Florida, and reported severely

damaged port and starboard aft strut

actuators, broken steering arms, a warped
5

hull, and ruptured seawater piping which

flooded the gas turbine (pers. comm. T.

Tucker in Laist et al. 2001). 

In addition to vessel damage, ship strikes to

large whales can also pose a hazard to human

safety. In several cases, particularly with

small vessels and fast-moving vessels (e.g.,

ferries), passengers have been knocked off

their feet or even thrown from the boat upon

impact with a whale. Hazards can be even

more severe; Andre et al. (1997) in Laist et

al. (2001) reports a case in the Canary Islands

in which a high-speed ferry collided with a

sperm whale at 45 knots, killing it and

reportedly killing one passenger as well. 

Discussion

Many ship strike fatalities almost certainly go

undetected, so our database provides a

minimum count of such occurrences. In fact,

our records may represent only a fraction of

the actual number of strikes. Nonetheless,

they illustrate the scope and magnitude of the

threat of ship strikes to endangered large

whale species.

Ship strikes affect at least ten large whale

species. Given the low abundance of North

Atlantic right whales relative to other species,

the frequency of occurrence of ship strikes to

right whales suggests that the threat of ship

strikes is proportionally greater to this

species. 

Ship strikes occur in all oceans and off nearly

all continents. The small number of collision

records from areas outside the United States

is undoubtably due to the much reduced

likelihood that such strikes were made known

to us. The geographic distribution of our

records from North America may, in part, be

attributed to the disproportionate amount of

collision reporting among different regions,

as well as a function of high shipping traffic

volume in some locations. All vessel classes

are represented in our database, but it

appears generally that relatively large and

relatively fast moving vessels are most often

involved.

For a variety of reasons, certain vessel

classes are likely over-represented in our

data. As noted, federal vessels are more

likely to report a strike than commercial

vessels due to their standardized reporting

practice. In addition, awareness that an

animal has been struck may depend upon the

number of people on board. Federal ships

carry substantial crew, a number of whom

are generally on the bridge at any one time

(bridge crew on Navy vessels often consists

of a half dozen individuals or more). Such

crews are more likely to spot a whale and/or

register that a collision has occurred than a

container ship or tanker with only one or two

individuals at the helm. This may also be

true for whale watch vessels that have

passenger witnesses on board, and thus are

more apt to report strikes than those vessels

for which a collision may not be witnessed

by parties other than captain and crew. 

Numbers of ship strike reports in our

database that appear high for Navy and

Coast Guard vessels may also be factor of

size and vessel configuration. A ship must

register that a whale has been struck in order

to report the incident. Most federal ships are

smaller than those used for commerce and

thus register impact when large ships may

not (i.e., a 10,000 ton Naval ship has a

greater likelihood of recognizing that a

collision has occurred than does a 40,000

ton container ship). Smaller vessels are also

more likely to notice collisions by nature of

the location of a forward bridge. The

bridges of tankers and container ships are

generally located hundreds of feet aft and are

high above the water; this can result in a line
6

of sight well beyond the bow that obscures

the direct view in the immediate path of the

vessel. 

Finally, reporting may also be a factor of

geography. Navy operations, for example,

are often conducted along continental shelf

areas, in the same regions where large whale

species are likely to aggregate in pursuit, for

example, of prey concentrated there. Thus,

the frequency of these reports may be more a

factor of geographic overlap than vessel class

or mariner behavior. The same is likely true

for whale watching vessels which are

generally the only vessel class in the vicinity

of whales expressly because the whales are

there. 

Figures reported here for death and injury to

whales as a result of ship strike may not

accurately reflect the true results of impact. 

Death as a result of a strike was much more

common than injury in our database, but this

could be an artifact of most records

originating with dead/stranded whales. 

Likewise, records may not indicate the final

condition or status of an injured whale. As

an example, if an animal was seen bleeding

after impact, dove and was not re-sighted, it

was classified as an ‘injury’ in our database. 

The whale, in fact, may have died

subsequently from the injury, but a lack of

information in such cases prevents a final

assessment of collision impact. In any case,

death or injury, such impacts are capable of

delivering significant trauma to the animal.

The factors that contribute to ship strikes of

whales are not clear, nor is it understood why

some species appear more vulnerable than

others. Nonetheless, the number of known

ship strikes indicate that deaths and injuries

from ships and shipping activities remain a

threat to endangered large whale species,

right whales in particular. We believe the

compilation and presentation of these data

will help in defining measures to reduce the

incidence of such occurrences.

***********************

In an effort to use this database as an

effective tool in its protection and

stewardship of marine mammals, NOAA

Fisheries intends to continue adding to the

existing information contained in this report

as additional ship strike incidents occur. If

you have data to contribute relating to a

large whale ship collision, please contact:

Large Whale Conservation and Recovery

Program or

Marine Mammal Health and Stranding

Program

Office of Protected Resources

National Marine Fisheries Service 

1315 East-West Highway

Silver Spring, MD 20910

301-713-2322
7

Literature Cited

Best, P.B., J.L. Bannister, R.L. Brownell Jr. and G.P. Donovan (Eds). 2001. Report of the

workshop on the comprehensive assessment of right whales: a worldwide comparison. J.

Cetacean Res. Manage. (Special Issue) 2:1-60.

Knowlton, A.R. and S.D. Kraus. 2001. Mortality and serious injury of northern right whales

(Eubalaena glacialis) in the western North Atlantic Ocean. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. (Special

Issue) 2:193-208.

Laist, D.W., A.R. Knowlton, J.G. Mead, A.S. Collet and M. Podesta. 2001. Collisions between

ships and whales. Marine Mammal Science, 17(1):35-75.
8

Figure 1. The occurrence of ship strikes in eleven whale species.

Figure 2. The geographic distribution of ship strikes to large whales world-wide. 
9

Figure 3. Distribution of vessel strikes to large whales in North America.

Figure 4. Result of ship strike to large whales.
10

Figure 5. Types of vessel involved in collisions with large whales (where vessel type is

reported).

Note: The high occurrence of Navy reports may reflect military and government reporting practice rather than an actual higher

frequency of collisions relative to other ship types. Reporting struck or dead whales to NOAA Fisheries is now a part of standard

operating practices for Navy and USCG.

Figure 6. The frequency of occurrence of ship speed in ship strike incidents in which ship speed

was known.
11

Source codes and abbreviations for ship strike spreadsheet records:

 * = from Laist et al. 2001 

BO = NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion

IML = Institute de la Mer et du Littoral, La Rochelle, France

kts = knots

MMC = Marine Mammal Commission

NEFSC = NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

nm = nautical miles

NMS = National Marine Sanctuary

NP = National Park

NWFSC = NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center

NWR = National Wildlife Refuge

OLE = NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement 

SICDD = Smithsonian Institute Cetacean Distributional Database

USCG = U.S. Coast Guard 

Vessel names available upon request.
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

US East Coast

02/08/02 humpback Cape Henry, VA mortality

10/04/01 humpback

Approx. 5 nm NW of Stellwagen 

Bank, MA injury

06/29/01 minke/small sei 7.6

30 nm southeast of Cape Cod, 

inbound Boston traffic lane, MA 41-30N, 069-27.5W mortality

03/17/01 right Assateague Is, VA mortality

02/01/01 finback

Port Elizabeth, NJ Berthing 

Channel mortality

01/02/01 finback New York Harbor mortality

12/11/00 finback F 10.8 New York Harbor mortality

12/04/00 humpback M 8.5 0.5 nm offshore Cape Lookout, NJ mortality

07/29/00 humpback Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA unknown

05/16/00 sperm Block Canyon, NJ 39-45N, 71-07W unknown

05/14/00 humpback Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA unknown

11/06/99 finback Port Elizabeth, NJ mortality

06/23/99 minke 6 est

Near reserve channel, Boston 

Harbor, MA 42-19.8N, 70-60W mortality

04/20/99 right (Staccato) F 13.7

6 miles N of Griffin Island, 

Wellfleet, MA 41-54.3N, 70-9.7W mortality 

02/10/99 finback M 15.5 False Cape State Park, VA 36-47N, 75.5W mortality

12/12/98 minke Cape Cod Bay, MA injury

10/07/98 right NC/VA state line mortality

09/12/98 minke 6 Barnstable, MA mortality

08/02/98 humpbacks Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA unknown

06/07/98 2 humpbacks Boston Harbor, MA unknown

05/24/98 minke 6 nm N of Race Pt, MA 42-14N, 70-10W injury

03/21/98 finback

Approx. 7.5 nm off Cape Henry, 

VA 36-5N, 75-48W mortality

03/21/98 finback F 16.9 Salvo, NC 35-28.4N, 75-29W mortality

12
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel 

Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

OLE report

whale-watch 

vessel 11.7 NEFSC

animal came up under keel of vessel, abrasion 1.5 ft long by 1 in 

wide seen anterior to dorsal fin

Navy 253 15 N ship report

crew heard impact and felt shudder, gray and white whale observed 

lodged on bow, whale sank after ship backed up 

OLE report

OLE report

OLE report

NEFSC

from necropsy: abrasions, bruising, large hemotoma, 4 broken ribs 

and broken vertebral processes

NEFSC

from necropsy: many focal hematomas on left side along ribs, but 

no pattern and no broken bones

OLE report

OLE report

OLE report

OLE report

NEFSC

badly decomposed whale floating in harbor, carcass towed out to 

sea by MA Environmental Police 

NEFSC

mortality attributed to ship strike, necropsy points very strongly to 

traumatic incident that fractured the mandible

NEFSC

from necropsy: large wound on dorsal peduncle ridge, 

hemorrhaging, fractured vertebrae indicative of ship strike

whale-watch 

vessel NEFSC

body of whale seen in wake of whale watching vessel, blood 

reported

OLE report

whale-watch 

vessel 24 25 Y NEFSC

whale swam under bow, impact felt, surfaced w/deep, bleeding 

gash, dead carcass sighted immediately afterward

whale-watch 

catamaran 36 18.3 NEFSC

whale surfaced in front of vessel, massive, fresh, bleeding wound 

across back from flipper to flipper 

OLE report

NEFSC

NEFSC

NEFSC large hematoma evident from necropsy

13
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

03/03/98 blue approaching Narragansett Bay, RI mortality

01/03/98 right Georgia 30-50.7N, 81-9.6W injury

08/10/97 unknown Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA unknown

12/10/97 humpback Beaufort Inlet, NC 34-39N, 76-39W mortality

07/20/97 humpback Cape Cod Bay, MA 42-09.6N, 069-12.9W unknown

06/07/97 minke Sandy Hook Natl. Seashore, NJ 40-28N, 73-59.7W mortality

05/12/97 finback 12 est Boston Harbor, MA 41-23N, 71-02.8W mortality

03/21/97 finback 12 est 7.5 nm off VA Beach, VA 36-50N, 75-48.3W mortality

11/03/96 humpback M 8.4 Carrituk, NC 36-18N, 75-48W mortality

07/15/96 minke Off Race Pt., MA

no sign of 

injury

07/14/96 finback M 13.5 Elizabeth Channel, NJ 40-41N, 74-09W mortality

05/09/96 humpback F 7.3 Cape Henelopen State Park, DE 38-36.68N, 75-4.4W mortality

04/02/96 humpback F 7 Cape Story Beach, VA Beach, VA 36-54N, 76-03W mortality

03/25/96 right M Wellfleet, MA

mortality, 

stranded

03/09/96 right M MA mortality

02/26/96 finback F 18 est 9 nm off Sandy Hook, NJ 40-18N, 73-46W mortality

01/30/96 right 13.7 10 nm east of Sapelo Island, GA mortality

11/14/95 finback F 10

Below Old Cooper River, 

Charleston, SC 32-48N, 79-56W mortality

10/09/95 minke 185 km E of Cape Cod, MA unknown

08/13/95 right F adult Gulf of Maine unknown

08/01/95 finback 17 48 km SE of Cape Cod, MA mortality

06/10/95 minke F 3.7 Piney Point, MD 38-8N, 76-31.5W mortality

06/04/95 humpback M 8.8

5 nm off Rudee Inlet, VA Beach, 

VA 36-49N, 75-52W mortality

02/01/95

unknown 

(right?) Off NC unknown

14
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

bulbous bow 

tanker 148

Ford, pers 

comm

whale found draped across vessel's bow by port pilot, hemorrhaging 

indicated whale was alive when struck

NEFSC

entire left fluke lobe extending beyond dorsal notch severed by 

propeller, wound healed, status good

OLE report

NEFSC probable ship strike 

USCG 82.3 20 N

USCG BO 

6/8/98

humpback observed 5-10 ft under surface, thump heard, ship felt 

shudder, whale struck on starboard, not re-sighted

NEFSC

from necropsy: severely decomposed, spine broken, likely ship 

strike 

NEFSC floater, moderate decomposition, possible ship strike

NEFSC ship strike account in initial report

NEFSC

acute trauma to skull, blunt trauma to left peduncle, likely ship 

strike 

ferry (?) 15 NEFSC whale hit, re-surfaced, no sign of injury

NEFSC ship strike (pre/post undetermined), adjacent to Maersk Shipping

NEFSC ship strike (pre/post undetermined) 

NEFSC

from necropsy: stranded, fractured left mandible, possible ship 

strike 

NEFSC

from necropsy: prop cuts along back, damaged baleen, thick area of 

skull broken indicating ship strike 

Best et al 

2001 broken skull and 3.3 m long gash on back

NEFSC floater, possible ship strike

Navy BO 

5/15/97

hemorhagging, massive cranium fracturing, cervical vertebrae 

broken, indicates blunt trauma w/large vessel

NEFSC

from necropsy: fractures to skull and hemorrhaging indicative ship 

strike

USCG 64 15 N NEFSC whale sighted off starboard, thud and shudder felt, not re-sighted 

Best et al 

2001

cut 60-90 cm deep on right side of head below rostrum and into 

lower lip, orange cyamids on tail and lip edge

bulbous bow 

cruise ship 173 SICDD*

vibration felt while ship underway off Cape Cod, whale found on 

ship's bow in Bermuda with broken spine and extensive bruises

NEFSC

stranding, large cut through skin on dorsal thorax, likely brought 12 

mi up Potomac by ship

NMFS 

memo

several major lacerations indicative of collision with a propeller, 

deepest 27cm., whale likely bled to death 

Navy

Laist et al 

2001

whale breached in front of submarine, struck bow, slid down 

vessel's starboard, may have been injured on right side

15
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

11/17/94 sei 15 est Charlestown Harbor, Boston, MA mortality

08/15/94 minke 2

Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay, 

VA 37N, 76-21.4W mortality

08/04/94 right Gulf of Maine unknown

07/19/94 humpback Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA unknown

04/18/94 finback Penns Grove, NJ mortality

04/10/94 humpback Ocracoke, NC mortality

03/12/94 finback F 16 est

Cape Henry, Chesapeake Bay, VA 

Beach 36-56N, 76-01.6W mortality

02/22/94 right whale calf FL

mortality 

(presumed)

12/31/93 right F East of Cape Charles, VA

mortality, 

floater

12/06/93 right M 12--22 NC/VA border, off False Cape

mortality, 

floater

12/06/93 right F VA mortality

10/07/93 humpback 2 km off Atlantic City, NJ injury

10/01/93 minke Sandbridge, VA mortality

09/27/93 minke M 4.3 Ocean City, NJ 38-26N, 75-04.1W mortality

Aug-93 finback 15 Boston Harbor, MA 41-23N, 71-03W mortality

03/31/93 minke 7.5

New York Harbor, Staten Island, 

NY 40-39N, 74-03W mortality

01/05/93 right whale calf 

In transit between Mayport and Ft. 

Pierce, FL 30-02.44N, 81-16.04W mortality

10/09/92 humpback F 8.7 Metompkin Island, VA 37-46N, 75-32W mortality

07/31/92 finback M 17 Port Newark, NJ 42N, 74.09W mortality

06/02/92 finback F 15.6 Beach Haven Crest, NJ 39-36N, 74-12.5W mortality

04/22/92 humpback F 9 Hatteras National Seashore, NC 35-11.4N, 75-46W mortality

04/16/92 humpback F 9

Asseteague National Seashore, 

MD 38-10N, 75-10W mortality

03/15/92 minke F 6.8 St. Johns River, FL 30-21.1N, 81-18W mortality

03/10/92 humpback F 10.6 Hatteras Natl. Seashore, NC 35-20N, 75-21W mortality

16
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

container ship NEFSC vessel collision, came in on bow of container ship

NEFSC lower jaw broken, had begun to heal, possible ship strike 

OLE report

OLE report

Laist et al 

2001

floating in Delaware River, broken vertebrae, blunt trauma to right 

pectoral fin and surrounding area

Laist et al 

2001 hemorrhaging in mandible and ventral to left pectoral 

NEFSC flukes cut off, propeller marks in caudal area 

Best et al 

2001

several deep cuts on head and lower lip regions, probable propeller 

cuts on both sides of dorsal flukes

NEFSC

stranding 

report

scar on leading edge of fluke near tip and line scar along right side 

of mid-body, may have been pre-mortem

Best et al 

2001

carcass floating belly up w/large straight gash running from right 

ventral to right lateral surface anterior to flukes

sport-fishing 

vessel 10 >10 Y SICDD*

animal hit while vessel accelerating, 15 min later animal observed 

"wobbling" while diving, blood seen in water

Laist et al 

2001 left mandible broken

NEFSC stranding, possible ship strike, pre/post mortem undetermined

NEFSC whale carried into harbor, likely ship strike

Navy NEFSC brought in on ship bow, reported to government as ship strike 

USCG 25 15 N

Navy BO 

5/15/97

calf hit, lacerations observed, carcass found 4 days later w/ 2 series 

of large propeller cuts from twin engine

NEFSC

stranding, extensive bruising on right side, internal hemorraging on 

left flank, ship strike 

NEFSC

from necropsy: moderately decomposed, fractured vertebrae midsection, death due to ship strike 

NEFSC stranding, several fractured vertebrae, possible ship strike

NEFSC stranding, internal damage extensive, possible ship strike

NEFSC

stranding, skull disarticulated, blunt trauma left side, possible ship 

strike 

NEFSC propeller wounds from large vessel

NEFSC

stranding, net scars on caudal peduncle, possible propeller wounds 

on fluke

17
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

02/14/92 humpback M 8.6

Floating in mouth of Chesapeake 

Bay, Virginia Beach, VA 36-59N, 76-08W mortality

11/08/91 humpback M 9 Island Beach State Park, NJ 39-50N, 74-05W mortality

08/08/91 unknown 

25 nm south of Martha's Vineyard, 

MA unknown

07/06/91 right whale calf 4.6 East of Delaware Bay, DE 38-21.30N, 73-06.30W mortality

06/21/91 humpback Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA injury

03/12/91 right F 2 years Off FL mortality

02/11/91 right F calf Southeast US injury

11/25/90 finback F 13 Curtis Bay, Baltimore, MD 39-40N, 76-40W mortality

06/08/90 humpback Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA unknown

02/05/90 humpback 11 S of 18 m marker, Nags Head, NC 35-56.5N, 75-36.5W mortality

07/14/89 finback North Kingstown, RI mortality

05/13/88 minke Duxbury Beach, MA mortality

05/13/88 sei Baltimore, MD mortality

05/04/88 finback Deal, NJ mortality

01/15/88 finback Marshfield, MA mortality

08/18/87 finback Boston, MA mortality

02/14/87 right F calf Southeast US injury

08/07/86 right F 1 year Massachusetts Bay, MA mortality

07/02/86 finback Delaware River, NJ mortality

05/06/86 finback Hoboken, NJ mortality

08/27/85 finback Montauk, NY mortality

07/13/85 finback Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA unknown

Aug-84 finback Stellwagen Bank NMS, MA injury

03/07/84 finback Baltimore, MD mortality

18
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

NEFSC

floater, propeller wounds, fractured mandible and eye socket, 

possible ship strike 

NEFSC

3 propeller cuts observed on head, one cut fractured the right 

occipital condyle

OLE report

USCG 84 22 Y

Navy BO 

5/15/97

2 whales 50 yds off bow, calf rolled out from ship w/propeller 

gashes on body, sank rostrum up, obviously dead

whale-watch 

vessel 14 5-10

Sullivan and 

Young*

bow struck and rode up over whale, fresh nick observed between 

nares and dorsal fin, subsequently re-sighted healthy 

Best et al 

2001 from necropsy: shattered skull from ship strike 

Best et al 

2001

series of 3 propeller cuts, maximum 1.2 m long x 15 cm deep on 

left flank

NEFSC

apparent boat/ship collision, whale likely killed shortly before being 

found, ship strike mark mid-lateral left side 

OLE report

NEFSC broken mandible, head damage

SICDD* stranding record, fractured lower jaw

SICDD* stranded, one large gash and three smaller gashes

SICDD* brought in on bow of ship, damaged skull

SICDD* boat hit, found floating

SICDD* identified as possible ship collision

SICDD*

folded in half forward of dorsal fin on right side, likely brought into 

port on bow of ship

Best et al 

2001

series of 5 propeller cuts approx 30 cm long and 8 cm deep on left 

fluke tip

Best et al 

2001

2 propeller cuts, max. 4.5 m long x 1 m deep running longitudinally 

along body, severed spine

container ship SICDD* reported as struck by container ship

cruise ship SICDD* brought into port on bow of ship

SICDD* floating with propeller slashes, possible ship strike

OLE report

whale-watch 

vessel 28 16 Weinrich*

whale surfaced immediately in front of vessel, after collision whale 

was not resighted but blood seen in water 

SICDD* brought into port on bow of ship, bruising evident

19
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

10/14/83 finback Fire Island, NY mortality

07/31/83 finback Manhattan, NY mortality

02/21/83 right M 2 years New Jersey mortality

01/24/83 finback Norfolk, VA mortality

01/25/83 finback Norfolk, VA mortality

08/02/82 finback Elizabeth City, NJ mortality

03/31/81 finback Norfolk, VA mortality

08/13/80 right M

In transit between Mayport and Ft. 

Pierce, FL injury

05/25/80 right M Great South Channel, MA injury

10/18/79 finback Baltimore, MD mortality

03/05/79 right M juv NY mortality

11/05/76 right ME mortality

04/15/76 right M calf MA mortality

07/08/75 minke Boothbay, ME mortality

winter 

1972 right (possibly) Approx 97 km E of Boston, MA mortality

Aug-52 unknown 15

139 km of Montauk, Long Island, 

NY unknown

1940-45 sperm North Atlantic mortality

1940 baleen whale Off Cape Hatteras, NC mortality

1926 unknown North Atlantic mortality

1912-

1915 unknown Off U.S. East Coast mortality

1906 unknown Off Chatham, MA injured?

1896 sperm whale? Off Sandy Hook, NJ mortality

1885 unknown 32 km E of Nantucket, MA injury

20
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

SICDD* slashes on ventral side, possible ship strike

SICDD* brought into port on bow of ship

Best et al 

2001 severed tail

SICDD*

brought into port on bow of ship, bruising evident, reportedly hit off

New York

SICDD* floating near harbor, bruising evident

SICDD* brought in on bow of ship, hit off Boston, MA

SICDD*

brought into port on bow of ship, later determined to have been hit 

off Atlantic City, NJ

Best et al 

2001

series of 8 propeller cuts running along left flank and over back, 

max. 1.2 m length x 15 cm deep

Best et al 

2001 cut along back crossing spine, 1.5 m long x 15 cm deep

Russian cruise 

ship SICDD* brought into port of bow of ship

Best et al 

2001 tail severed

Best et al 

2001 severe lacerations observed on back

Best et al 

2001

large area of bruising observed behind skull, noted as probable ship 

collision

Laist et al 

2001 stranded, body heavily bruised

bulbous bow 

container ship 207 21-23 Murphy II*

noticed whale draped across ship's bow in harbor, realized slow 

speed during night due to impaled animal

Navy 93 14 Y

g

in Laist et al 

2001

whale seen off port, submerged a few seconds before impact, severe 

damage to vessel

Navy

Slipjer 

1962*

tanker

Burgess 

1940*

ocean liner

Laist et al 

2001

steamship

Laist et al 

2001

steamship

Laist et al 

2001

ocean liner

Laist et al 

2001

pilot boat 13 N

Laist et al 

2001

vessel's port bow collided w/whale, whale then seen rolling as if in 

distress

21
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

Eastern Canada

09/27/97 humpback St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada injury

08/19/97 right F Bay of Fundy, Canada mortality

09/27/00 right F Bay of Fundy injury

07/23/00 finback 41-52N, 71-22W unknown

07/08/00 right M Bay of Fundy, Canada unknown

10/19/95 right M Bay of Fundy, Canada mortality

09/26/95 minke

Bergeronnes, St. Lawrence 

Estuary, Canada unknown

09/16/95 right M 4 years Bay of Fundy, Canada injury 

08/14/94 finback

Tadoussac, St Lawrence Estuary, 

Canada injury

07/29/93 finback

Bergeronnes, St. Lawrence 

Estuary, Canada injury

09/05/92 right F adult Bay of Fundy, Canada mortality

06/20/92 finback

Tadoussac, St. Lawrence Estuary, 

Canada injury

08/28/87 right Browns Bank, Canada injury

07/09/87 right M juv Nova Scotia mortality

08/14/86 right F Bay of Fundy, Canada

mortality 

(presumed)

08/05/84 right Browns Bank, Canada mortality

10/09/67 unknown 15-18 Gaspe, Quebec, Canada mortality

Jul-67 unknown South of Halifax, Canada mortality

1913 unknown Off Newfoundland, Canada unknown

1910 unknown North Atlantic mortality

1908 sperm Off Newfoundland, Canada mortality

1908 unknown Off Newfoundland, Canada mortality?

1904 unknown Atlantic Ocean mortality

22
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

whale-watch 

vessel Menard*

vessel struck humpback after it surfaced off bow, whale much less 

active and appeared injured after collision

Best et al 

2001

from necropy: 6 m long haematoma on left side and broken right 

mandible, no external sign of injury

NEFSC

seen in July quite healthy, re-sighted in September with deep wound 

on left side of head

OLE report

NEFSC

seen repeatedly w/ large deep gash on back, wound appears to be 

from ship strike between 09/99--07/00

Best et al 

2001 4.8 m long gash in back, broken vertebral disks

whale-watch 

vessel 11 >30

Laist et al 

2001

rigid-hulled pneumatic craft collided w/whale, captain could not see 

directly in front due to high bow

Best et al 

2001

series of propeller cuts, max. 1 m long x 8 cm deep on tail stock and 

tail, fishing gear through mouth

whale-watch 

vessel

Laist et al 

2001

vessel reported colliding w/whale, hull vibrated, wound seen on 

animal

whale-watch 

vessel Menard*

whale surfaced and struck bow of vessel, wound subsequently 

observed on animal's back

Best et al 

2001

necropy revealed internal haemorrhaging from impact w/ship, no 

external sign of injury

whale-watch 

vessel Menard*

vessel collided w/whale while whale-watching, wound visible on 

animal's back in front of dorsal

Best et al 

2001 1 m of right fluke tip missing, severed by propeller

Best et al 

2001

2-3 propeller cuts on left flank, 20-25 cm deep, shallow gash and 

swelling on right flank

Best et al 

2001 1 m diameter necrotic wound approx 1 m behind blowholes

Best et al 

2001

series of 5 propeller cuts, approx 60 cm long x 10 cm deep on left 

flank and near spine

passenger ship 232

g

in Laist et al 

2001

whale observed impaled on ship's bow, animal nearly cut in half as 

vessel backed to dislodge

Navy 219 Cummings*

whale stuck on bow after vessel speed registered too slow, whale 

sank when vessel backed down to remove it

cargo ship

Laist et al 

2001

steamship

Laist et al 

2001

ocean liner

Laist et al 

2001

ocean liner

Laist et al 

2001

steamship

Laist et al 

2001

23
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

1903 unknown

Placenta Bay, Newfoundland, 

Canada unknown

US and Canada West Coast

11/04/02 finback M 16 Off Waldron Island, WA mortality

10/02/02 finback 18.5 Cherry Point, WA mortality

08/09/02 finback 17 Elliot Bay, Seattle, WA mortality

07/17/02 blue 22-25 

8 mi NW of Point Benito, San 

Fran, CA mortality

10/10/01 balaenopterid 15

4.5 mi south of San Nicolas Is., 

CA mortality

08/21/01 balaenopterid F 15 Los Angeles Harbor

mortality, 

stranded

08/20/01 unknown

Channel Islands, 25 nm off San 

Clemente Is., CA 32-23.5N, 118-50.3W injury

08/15/01 unknown

Channel Islands off San Clemente 

Island, CA 32-34N, 118-25W injury

07/28/01 unknown

10 mi off Solana Beach, San 

Diego, CA unknown

01/09/01 gray 3.6

3 mi offshore Montana de Oro 

State Park, CA 35-20N, 120-56W injured

05/28/00 humpback F 12

Fiddler's Cove, south of Pescadero 

State Beach, CA

mortality, 

stranded C 124

03/19/00 gray M 12

2 mi W of Orick, Redwood 

National Park 41-15N, 124-00W

mortality, 

stranded VM 2388

12/19/99 gray M 12

Muir Beach, Golden Gate National 

Recreation Area mortality C 101

05/05/99 unknown 3 nm offshore, Davenport, CA 36-56.8N, 122-05.08W unknown

04/30/98 gray F (juv12 Stinson Beach, Marin County, CA

mortality, 

stranded C 84

04/28/98 gray 6 est En route to San Diego, CA 32-43N, 117-24W mortality

04/24/98 gray 9 est CA 31-58N, 118-35W mortality

01/02/98 gray 12 est San Pedro, LA county, CA 33-14N, 118-08W injury

01/23/99 gray 7.6

Off N Coronado Is, 5 mi from west 

end, CA unknown

01/07/98 gray calf F 4.5 Crescent City Harbor, CA injury C 79

08/31/97 unknown Dixon Entrance, Canadian waters unknown 97045

03/25/97 gray

6 (w/o 

head)

Vandenberg Airforce Base, 1.5 mi 

N of Purisma Pt., CA

mortality, 

stranded

VAFB 

97-01

24
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

steamship

Laist et al 

2001

San Juan 

Islander

necropsy indicated blunt trauma through massive hemorrhaging, 

symmetrical fractures, displaced spine

tanker

46,100 

gr tons NWFSC ship was en route from Valdez, AK, strike was pre-mortem

container ship 75 NWFSC whale brought in on bow of ship, gored, strike was pre-mortem 

NOAA 

Fisheries four dorsal propeller gashes, animal eviscerated by encounter

freighter

stranding 

report

animal initially sighted w/2 other whales prior to vessel collision 

w/freighter

stranding 

report

carcass floating on back, 35 ventral grooves visible, large gash in 

gular region

Navy 57.3

stranding 

report

diving whale observed off starboard, shudder felt, blood observed 

in water, whale not resighted

Navy 153.9

stranding 

report

whale rolled over after collision, disappeared under ship, blood 

observed in water, whale not resighted

Navy 133 21

stranding 

report

prior to strike, whale observed 30 yds. off bow, after strike whale 

surfaced off port bow and swam away, no blood observed

stranding 

report

animal sighted thrashing at surface, flukes completely severed, 

bleeding, final status unknown

stranding 

report skull smashed, suspect ship strike

stranding 

report

large gouge on dorsal surface behind blowhole, blood on palate and 

coming from blowhole

stranding 

report

carcass first found floating under Golden Gate Bridge on 12/18/99, 

rumor of boat strike

USCG

stranding 

report

ship hit whale and it breached 2-3 times, no blood observed, no 

animal found on revisitation of site

stranding 

report

blood pouring from mouth in surf, then stranded on beach 

w/massive hemorhage in thoracic cavity

Navy 153.9 22 N

stranding 

report

whale sighted at 2000 yds, 10 min later ship shuddered, whale 

observed wrapped around upper bow stem, then sank

Navy 172.8 14

stranding 

report

whale sighted 1 nm off bow, 1.5 hrs later whale found wrapped 

around bow, ship backed down, whale sank

USCG 25

stranding 

report

collision resulted in six 1-ft gashes in animal's side, final status 

unknown

stranding 

report

eyewitness account; animal appeared stunned after collision but no 

blood observed, animal swam away

stranding 

report

calf bleeding profusely on dorsal side, believed to be propeller 

wound

cruise ship 214

stranding 

report

called in by passenger, audible sound of boat strike as whale 

surfaced directly in path of vessel

stranding 

report

apparent clean cuts indicating vessel collision, head and left flipper 

missing

25
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

02/15/97 unknown 11 mi off Catalina Island, CA injury

02/11/97 finback 7.6 LA harbor, CA 33-44.30N, 118-17.00W mortality JEH 483

09/17/96 finback 14.5 est Huntington Beach, CA mortality

03/07/95 gray

2.5 mi SE of Point Loma, San 

Diego, CA unknown

03/05/95 humpback 15 Westminster St., Venice, CA

mortality, 

stranded JEH 465

01/02/95 gray

Off Anacapa Island, Channel 

Islands, CA unknown

05/14/94 gray 7.6 est

Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, 

CA 35-00N, 120-30W

mortality, 

stranded

MZH 

0005

08/02/93 blue F 24.4

San Nicolas Island, west end, 

Ventura County, CA

mortality, 

stranded TDL 169

04/06/93 gray

En route from San Diego to Dana 

Pt, CA injury

08/12/91 finback M 13.5 LA harbor, CA 33-44N, 118-16W mortality JEH 434

08/06/91 gray 10.7

8 mi off Oceanside, San Diego 

County, CA 33-08N, 117-31W mortality

04/13/91 gray

F 

(juv) 9.6 est

Point Richmond, East Bay 

Regional Park, CA 37-55N, 122-21W

mortality, 

stranded JC 1

04/03/91 gray M 12

Hamilton Air Force Base, Marin 

County, CA 38N, 122W

mortality, 

stranded RLD 382

04/17/91 gray F 11.4

San Francisco Bay NWR, north of 

Dunbarton Bridge, CA 37-31N, 122-06W

mortality, 

stranded

06/15/90 unknown

Open water S of Clemente Island, 

Channel Islands, CA 32-39N, 117-47W unknown

05/31/90 unknown 12

Open water S of Clemente Island, 

Channel Islands, CA 32-48.2N, 118-44.7W mortality

late 

1980's finback 20 Seattle, WA mortality

06/11/89 blue 20 Tacoma, WA mortality

03/05/88 gray Outside Los Angeles Harbor, CA unknown

01/11/88 gray F 8 (juv)

Towed to NMFS dock, Marin 

County, CA mortality RLD 266

08/03/87 blue F 14

Long Beach Pier J container 

terminal, CA mortality JEH 360

05/02/87 gray F 11.5

Ft. Baker, Sausalito, Marin 

County, CA mortality RLD 187

02/14/87 gray M 4.3 SE side of Ventura River, CA mortality 87-2

01/24/85 unknown Off southern CA injury

26
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

rubber 

inflatable 6 34.8

stranding 

report blood in water after collision, injury assumed

freighter or 

container

stranding 

report

carcass brought in on bow of unknown freighter or container ship, 

head and tail missing

freighter

stranding 

report animal brought in to harbor on bow of freighter

24-ft runabout, 

private

stranding 

report

eyewitness account, animal hit in tail stock area, no apparent 

injuries

stranding 

report boat collision

whale-watch 

vessel

stranding 

report

eyewitness account, whale initially exhibited erratic behavior when 

hit, then swam away, no blood observed

stranding 

report possible propeller marks

stranding 

report

large hematoma on lower right jaw & gular region, 3-5 cuts through 

ventral pleats indicated propellers, apparent ship strike

Navy 19.8 22 Y OLE report

whale received 7 x 3-4 in slice along back, circled after collision, 

bleeding profusely, rolled over, stopped moving

American 

President Line

stranding 

report

whale hit by ship north of LA harbor and brought in draped across 

bow

Navy

stranding 

report

animal suffered 7 x 3 x 4 in gash on dorsal surface from propeller, 

bled profusely after collision, then floated belly-up

stranding 

report 6-7 fresh cuts on back, appeared to have been made by propeller

stranding 

report

5 cuts on right side and dorsal, appear to have been made by 

propeller

stranding 

report possible vessel collision

Navy

stranding 

report

vessel collided w/whale, large blood pool observed, survival not 

probable

Navy 133.5

stranding 

report

ship struck left side of whale, large portions of whale's remains 

floated at surface in large pool of blood, then sank

container ship

Ford, pers 

comm

ship en route from Japan arrived in harbor with whale draped across 

bow

container ship

Ford, pers 

comm

whale found draped across bow of ship arriving from southern 

California

tanker

Laist et al 

2001

pod of whales seen directly ahead, dove to avoid ship, last whale to 

dive was hit, ship did not change course or speed

stranding 

report

whale killed by large ship's propeller which severed spinal cord 

dorsally at skull's occipital

container ship 176

stranding 

report hit in Santa Barbara Channel, pushed into harbor

stranding 

report evidence of vessel collision, wound from large ship's propeller

stranding 

report propeller lacerations (4) through dorsal vertabra and base of tail

Navy 126 Y

Tucker in 

Laist 2001

crew noted back and tail of large whale, large pool of blood astern, 

increase in aft vibration 

27
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

10/24/80 blue 18 North Pacific mortality

01/22/75 gray Off Pt. Loma, CA mortality

12/26/73 orca calf Strait of Georgia, B.C., Canada injury

11/29/65 sperm 200 km W of San Francisco, CA 37-30N, 123-31W injury

Alaska and Hawaii

04/04/02 humpback

Several nm off Maalaea Harbor, 

Maui, HI

no sign of 

injury

07/16/01 humpback F Glacier Bay NP, AK mortality

06/19/01 humpback Dixon Entrance, AK 54-40N, 130-49W 

02/13/01 humpback 5--6 1.5 nm E of Olowalu Pt, Maui, HI 20-46.74N, 156-35.96W injury

02/08/01 humpback 2-3 nm S of Club Lanai, HI injury

08/16/00 finback Uyak Bay, AK 57-38.5N, 153-55.9W

no sign of 

injury

11/02/99 humpback Metlakatla, AK unknown

07/28/99 humpback

10.6-

13.7

Stephens Passage, 60 nm S of 

Juneau, AK mortality

06/04/99 finback 20 Vancouver, Canada mortality

03/06/99 humpback calf

Waters between Maui and Lanai, 

HI injury

02/16/99 humpback juv

2 mi S of Magregor Point, Maui, 

HI injury

09/24/98 humpback 18

North Pass, outside Juneau, SE 

AK unknown

08/11/98 humpback

North Pass, outside Juneau, SE 

AK

no sign of 

injury

03/30/98 unknown 3.6 Near Pearl Harbor, HI 21-18.01N, 157-57.51W unknown

EN-98-

06-OH

10/12/97 sperm

12-15 

est

60 mi SW of Middleton Is, Prince 

William Sound, AK

no sign of 

injury

07/12/97 humpback NW Shelter Is, outside Juneau, AK injury

05/30/97 unknown

Resurrection Bay, Prince William 

Sound, AK unknown

05/20/97 gray F 10.9 1/4 mi S of Kah Shakes Cove, AK 55-02.00N, 13-00.00W mortality

05/16/96 unknown Blying Sound, Gulf of Alaska, AK 59-23N, 145-09W injury

28
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

bulbous bow 

freighter 174

Laist et al 

2001

whale drifted free of bow upon arrival in harbor, thought to have 

been on bow for at least 5 days

Navy 72 tons 51 Y

Laist et al 

2001

ship hit whale, vessel came to dead stop w/i 30 m, next day dead 

whale w/severed tail stranded near collision site

commercial 

ferry 152 15-18 N

Ford et al 

1994*

crunch heard at ship's stern, blood in wake, bull, cow and 2 calves, 

1 calf bleeding profusely from visible prop slashes

whale catcher 

boat 41 Y Cummings*

vessel approached cow/calf pair, female dove and was hit while 

surfacing, thrashing whale seen in boat's wake

whale-watch 

catamaran 19.8 N OLE report

vessel in neutral, whale surfaced underneath and lifted right stern of 

vessel several inches

OLE report

USCG 33.5 12

stranding 

report

whale surfaced 10 ft in front of vessel, ship backed down and came 

to all stop, crew heard thump

whale-watch 

catamaran 19.7 17 N OLE report

bump felt on starboard, vessel heeled slightly, young whale surfaced

75 yds away in wake, no blood observed

whale-watch 

inflatable raft 13.2 15.6 N OLE report

whale surfaced in front of vessel and was struck by keel, dove and 

swam away, blood seen in water

USCG 33.5 17

stranding 

report

whale surfaced and vessel came down on top of it, animal appeared 

to be uninjured and swam away

Bayliner 

pleasure craft

stranding 

report

vessel struck whale while underway, skin left on bow, status 

unknown

cruise ship 243.8 19 N

stranding 

report

vibration felt while underway, whale observed wrapped around 

ship's bow, came loose and sank when ship slowed down

cruise ship 259.7 Ford

ship arrived in harbor en route from Alaska, carcass draped across 

bow, captain and crew unaware of strike

high speed 

ferry 16.8 OLE report

vibration from strike felt on vessel, blood in wake as calf surfaced 

and disappeared, adult whale surfaced and dove

Bertram 

fishing charter 9.4 12 N OLE report

boat made contact w/whale, animal surfaced w/blood in water then 

dove, cut observed on back behind dorsal fin 

Bayliner 7.3 12 Y

stranding 

report

whale surfaced under bow as boat crossed its back, spasmed and 

dove, knocked vessel and cracked its hull

whale watch 

catamaran 23.8

2 (rev 

idle)

stranding 

report whale surfaced under catamaran while idling, no evidence of injury

Navy 110.3 8 N Navy report

whale crossed 20 ft in front of ship's bow back and forth, vessel 

struck animal on 2nd crossing, animal swam away

fishing vessel 6 N

stranding 

report

captain reported whale hit on tail, seemed unharmed, went back to 

feeding 

skiff

stranding 

report whale hit skiff, turning it over and dumping two people into water

whale-watch 

vessel 18 20 Y

NMFS 

memo

large whale surfaced in front of vessel, captain throttled down but 

whale hit hard, not seen after collision

stranding 

report deep gash on top of head indicative of vessel strike injury 

USCG 115 15 N

NMFS 

memo

whale surfaced 50 yds off vessel, attempt to turn unsuccessful, 

impact felt, blood in water, no carcass

29
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

01/16/96 humpback Off Kihei, Maui, HI

no sign of 

injury

06/01/95 unknown Summer Sound, Southeast AK injury

US Gulf Coast

04/10/99 right Unknown unknown

10/23/98 sperm Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond, FL 29-21.1N, 81-4.5W mortality

07/22/97 minke unknown

12/20/96 finback M 14 Floating at port dock 32-07.3N, 81-07.9W mortality

02/19/94 humpback 8.2 Gulf, Gordon Pass, FL 26-8N, 81-48W injury

04/09/90 sperm F 8.4 est Grande Isle, LA 29-15N, 89W mortality

04/16/91 unknown Off Key West, FL unknown

30-Jan right calf Texas mortality

International

08/07/02 sperm 9 30 nm south of Marquesas 23-56.3N, 82-06.5W injury

07/22/02 southern right M adult Argentina mortality

06/18/01 sperm

20 mi south of Puerto Rico, 

Caribbean Sea mortality

02/28/01 humpback

Off Enterprise Island, Antarctic 

Peninsula, Southern Ocean

no sign of 

injury

02/01/00 humpback N/A

Off Antarctic Peninsula, Southern 

Ocean injury

01/11/00 Bryde's N/A 12.4 SW of Bonaire, Caribbean Sea mortality

08/05/98 unknown N/A

Mediterranean, Nice Harbor, 

France unknown

07/10/98 southern right F calf Die Dam, Quoin Point, S. Africa mortality

1997 sperm F

cow/cal

f pr Canary Islands 28-11N, 15-32W mortality

08/09/97 sperm Ischia, Campania, Italy mortality

07/31/97 minke Genova, Liguria, Italy mortality

02/24/97 finback M 5.2 Mediterranean Sea, Marseille mortality

30
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

whale-watch 

catamaran 25 9 N OLE report vessel came down on top of whale (three in close pod)

fishing vessel 27 9 N

Laist et al 

2001

vessel struck whale head-on along port bow, whale observed 

swimming in circles before contact w/animal lost

OLE report

NEFSC head detached, possible boat propeller scar

Navy 169.5 Navy memo

NEFSC found on ship's bow 

NEFSC

propeller wounds, seen from 2/19-2/21 swimming normally, likely 

ship strike 

NEFSC

deep cuts on dorsal surface indicate the ship strike was probably premortem

Navy 24 <40 Y Tucker* ship struck whale, extensive damage to vessel, cost $1 million

Best et al 

2001 body severed approx 1 m forward of tail stock 

USCG whale's pectoral fin cut in half, swimming slowly, fate unknown

NMFS

Navy 154 27 N MMC letter

commanding officer felt shudder on impact, large blood slick in 

ship's wake, found dead whale upon circling back

inflatable 

zodiac 5.8 13-15 N ship report

two whales surfaced immediately in front of zodiac, one hit just 

below dorsal fin, no sign of blood in water or injury

passenger ship 118 14.3 N Wikander*

2 whales surfaced 14 m off bow, 1 came up directly under bow and 

was hit w/loud thud and shudder, blood in water

cruise ship 214 22 N De Meyer*

harbor master observed whale on ship's bow, time/location of 

collision determined from decrease in speed during night

high-speed 

ferry 30 Y Collet* vessel hit unidentified whale

Laist et al 

2001 tail cut off

commercial 

ferry 100 25 Andre*

cow/calf pair resting at surface, loud sound heard, bodies of both 

animals observed behind vessel amidst blood

Laist et al 

2001 stranded, 3 deep wounds

Laist et al 

2001 stranded w/fractured skull

Laist et al 

2001

stranded, large hematoma on right side of thorax, possible ship 

strike

31
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

01/24/97 sperm Messina, Sicily, Italy mortality

07/28/96 southern right 14.6

Scarborough, Cape Peninsula, S. 

Africa mortality

07/26/96 finback M 14

Mediterranean Sea, between 

France and Corsica mortality

09/26/95 finback F 18 Mediterranean Sea, Fos sur Mer mortality

05/25/95 finback Livorno, Tuscany, Italy mortality

06/17/95 blue

Approaching Hauraki Gulf, New 

Zealand mortality

06/17/95 finback

Shearness Harbour, Kent, United 

Kingdom mortality

11/10/94 southern right

10.7 

juv

Shell Bay, St. Helena Bay, S. 

Africa mortality

10/31/94 unknown

22 km W of Niigata, Japan, Sea of 

Japan injury

09/22/94 southern right 11 juv

Kabeljoubank, Breede River, S. 

Africa mortality

07/19/94 finback M 14.5

Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, 

Le Havre mortality

05/20/94 finback Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy mortality

1994 sei

Approaching Hauraki Gulf, New 

Zealand mortality

10/10/93 southern right F calf Lekkerwater, De Hoop, S. Africa mortality

Oct-93 southern right Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil mortality

09/09/93 finback Mediterranean, St. Tropez, France mortality

09/09/93 finback F 

Mediterranean, Toulon Harbor, 

France mortality

08/16/93 southern right calf

Between Long Beach and Koppie 

Alleen, S. Africa mortality

1992 southern right Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil unknown

05/15/92 bryde's 12 Bass Strait, Australia mortality

04/04/92 unknown 19 km W of Callao, Peru injury

Feb-92 sperm Canary Islands 27-56N, 14-34W mortality

1991 southern right Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil mortality

05/13/91 finback M 18.8

Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, 

Donges mortality

32
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

Laist et al 

2001 stranded w/propeller wounds, fractured skull

Laist et al 

2001 broken rostrum and missing skull bones

ferry

Laist et al 

2001 brought into port on bow of ship

merchant ship

Laist et al 

2001 brought into port on bow of ship

Laist et al 

2001 brought into port on bow of ship, fractured jaw and other wounds

container ship

Ford, pers 

comm ship entered Auckland harbor with whale on bow

container ship

Ford, pers 

comm

whale found wrapped around bow in harbor, pre- or post-mortem 

strike undetermined

Laist et al 

2001 diagonal slashes across genital aperture

high speed 

jetfoil ferry 31

Honma et al. 

1997*

after collision, tissue and bone indicative of marine mammal 

removed from waterjet suction pipe at vessel stern

Laist et al 

2001 cuts across back

merchant ship 190

Laist et al 

2001 brought into port on bow of ship

Laist et al 

2001 stranded w/propeller wounds on right side, fractured right flipper

container ship Ford ship entered Auckland harbor with whale on bow

Laist et al 

2001 tail cut off

Best et al 

2001 whale stranded w/4 propeller cuts on tail stock

Laist et al 

2001 hit by ship, seen floating at sea

bulbous bow 

ferry 159 20 Collet*

crew felt shock and strong vibrations, decrease in vessel speed, 3 

hrs later observed whale caught on bow in harbor

Laist et al 

2001 tail cut off

Best et al 

2001 trawler reported striking a right whale

bulbous bow 

container ship 121 14 Wapstra*

whale found draped around hull upon entering harbor, necropsy 

indicated whale alive when hit

research vessel 89 14 N Ainley*

shudder was felt, blood seen in ship's wake, numerous whales seen 

in area nearby

high speed 

ferry 20 45

Andre et al. 

1997* collision resulted in death of one passenger

Best et al 

2001 two halves of right whale found approx 1/2 mile apart

tanker

Laist et al 

2001 brought into port on bow of ship, broken jaw

33
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

04/30/91 finback Genova, Liguria, Italy mortality

28-Apr finback Porto Torres, Sardinia, Italy mortality

1989 southern right juv Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil mortality

05/20/89 finback Olbia, Sardinia, Italy mortality

09/07/88 southern right M 14.1

7 km outside Port Elizabeth 

Harbor, S. Africa mortality

01/16/88 sperm Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy mortality

05/22/87 finback Olbia, Sardinia, Italy mortality

04/27/87 sperm Savona, Liguria, Italy mortality

11/06/86 finback 16 Mediterranean Sea, Fos sur Mer mortality

06/28/86 finback Livorno, Tuscany, Italy mortality

06/23/86 finback Livorno, Tuscany, Italy mortality

01/21/85 finback M 18

Mediterranean Sea, Port La 

Nouvelle La Franqui mortality

10/16/84 southern right 7.2 calf East London Harbor, S. Africa mortality

02/08/84 southern right Jakkalsfontein, S. Africa mortality

07/27/83 southern right

14.3 

adult

Beachview, Port Elizabeth, S. 

Africa mortality

09/19/82 finback 13.5

Mediterranean Sea, Villeneuve les 

Maguelonnes mortality

07/05/80 blue 64 km W of Ensenada, Mexico mortality

10/19/76 finback F 12.5

Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, 

France mortality

04/03/76 finback M 14.3 Mediterranean Sea, Toulon mortality

1974 unknown Cook Strait, N.Z. injury

09/10/74 finback 15

Mediterranean Sea, between 

Menton and Antibes mortality

04/23/74 unknown <2 km off Baja Peninsula, Mexico injury

Oct-73 unknown Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean mortality

08/30/73 finback 15

Mediterranean Sea, between 

France and Corsica mortality

34
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

ferry

Laist et al 

2001 brought into port on bow of ferry

Laist et al 

2001

struck by ship 1.5 mi from port, seen alive w/deep wound on back, 

found dead a day later

Best et al 

2001 stranded w/propeller cuts on head

ferry

Laist et al 

2001 struck by ferry near entrance to harbor

twin screw 

ferry

Laist et al 

2001

impact with whale felt, blood in water, three days later whale 

stranded w/propeller gashes and damaged rostrum

Laist et al 

2001 stranded w/propeller wounds

Laist et al 

2001 brought into port on bow of ship

Laist et al 

2001 stranded w/propeller wounds

tanker

Laist et al 

2001 hit by tanker, brought into port on bow of ship

Laist et al 

2001 floating offshore with propeller wounds on back

Laist et al 

2001 floating 5 mi offshore with propeller wounds on back

Laist et al 

2001 stranded, large propeller cuts on back, probable ship strike

Hopper dredge 110 Best et al*

cow/calf pair surfaced in front of dredge, calf took full brunt of 

impact, struck by propeller as ship passed, stranded, died

Laist et al 

2001 major damage around midlength seen from air

Laist et al 

2001 five apparent propeller gashes

Laist et al 

2001 stranded, cut through middle of back, probable ship strike

tanker 203 m 21

Patten et al. 

1980*

whale w/broken spine floated off ship's bow in LA harbor, collision 

location inferred from decrease in speed

Laist et al 

2001 stranded, large propeller cuts on back, probable ship strike

merchant ship

Laist et al 

2001

brought into port on bow of ship, several ribs and cervical vertebra 

broken

commercial 

ferry

4,000 

tons 17 N

g

in Laist et al 

2001

struck and possibly killed whale, blood noticed in water after vessel 

passed

Laist et al 

2001 cut through middle, seen floating offshore

private motor 

yacht 18 10.5 N

g

in Laist et al 

2001

boat shook & veered to port, large whale surfaced at stern w/deep 

propeller gashes down mid-section, pool of blood seen

Navy 133 N Cummings* vessel collided w/large whale at night and sustained no damage

ferry IML* brought into port on bow of ship

35
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Date Species Sex

Length 

(m)

Location (where struck, if 

known; if not, where found ) Coordinates

Mortality/ 

Injury Field ID

09/03/72 finback M 12.6 Mediterranean Sea, Nice mortality

07/05/72 finback M 18 Mediterranean Sea, off Calvi mortality

Mar-72 unknown

Las Perlas Islands, Panama, 

Pacific Ocean injury

1963 unknown Equatorial Pacific injury

Sep-61 unknown Caribbean Sea injury

02/01/60 unknown

W of Cape Reinga, North Island, 

New Zealand injury

03/22/55 sperm 10

89 km W of Cape Gardafui, 

Canary Islands mortality

12/25/54 unknown

11 km off Kaikoura, South Island, 

New Zealand unknown

fall 1953 unknown N Yellow Sea mortality

1950 Bryde's Red Sea, Egypt mortality

1930's unknown Near Raratonga, South Pacific mortality

36
NOAA Fisheries Confirmed and Possible Ship Strikes to Large Whales

Vessel Type 

Vessel 

Size(m)

Speed 

(kts)

Vessel 

Damage Source Comments

ferry IML* brought into port on bow of ship

ferry

Laist et al 

2001 hit by ferry, seen floating at sea

Boston whaler 4 >25 Cummings*

boat struck whale and rode directly over the animal, after collision 

animal seen thrashing w/bloody wound

passenger ship

14,000 

tons 18 N Cummings*

whale in front of vessel was struck, small amount of blood in water, 

whale appeared to swim away slowly

cargo vessel

pp

8,000 

tons 14

Laist et al 

2001

whale first sighted lying at surface, then seen thrashing in wake 

w/blood in water after collision

passenger ship

13,000 

tons Cummings*

vessel shuddered and slowed when propeller struck whale, animal 

then seen thrashing w/back sliced and bleeding

steamship 144 17

Slipjer 

1979*

whale struck on head and body and became lodged on bow below 

water line

passenger ship 133 18 Y Cummings* vessel collided w/large whale and sustained damage

Navy 169 ~20 N Cummings*

shudder was felt, object on bow identified as whale, ship backed 

down to dislodge whale which then sank

tanker

Laist et al 

2001

steamer 131 15 Cummings* ship collided w/large whale and almost cut it in half

37