Just off the coast of Morocco, near Cape Spartel to the west of Tangier, a pair of orcas repeatedly rammed into a sailing yacht. The 50 foot long yacht named Alboran Cognac sprang leaks in its hull, leaving its two crew members stranded in the water.
An oil tanker passing nearby quickly changed course to rescue the crew members. The yacht eventually sank, and the crew returned to Gibraltar unharmed.
Recent Orca Attacks on Ships
This incident is the most recent of many attacks on small ships and boats traversing the Strait of Gibraltar in recent years. Rammings have increased over the last four years.
In November 2023, a group of orcas slammed into a yacht so hard that it eventually sank off of Morocco. Scientists are not sure why the group is attacking boats. Some scientists believe it could be playful copycat behavior.
The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the world’s busiest passageways and sees close to 300 large ship crossings daily. The Orca attacks have occurred between April and August, just in time for the busy summer sailing season.
In the wild, there have been no documented deaths caused by orca encounters. In captivity, several incidents have led to trainer injuries and deaths.
Other Odd Whale Behaviors
Over the last decade, scientists have observed strange whale behaviors around the world. These behaviors are happening in almost every species.
In 2023, a group of close to 100 pilot whales formed strange heart-shaped patterns before beaching themselves on the Australian coast. Over 50 whales died in the incident.
Many other incidents involve beaching. Researchers have wondered for years if this behavior is related to increased sonar use and boat traffic. Continued research is needed to get to the bottom of these tragic behaviors.