A humpback whale was apparently injured after being struck by a B.C. Ferries vessel in Howe Sound over the weekend. B.C. Ferries confirmed the Queen of Surrey was involved in a whale strike Sunday afternoon near Grace Island, during a sailing between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale. “Based on initial reports, the whale surfaced directly in front of the vessel, leaving the crew with very little time to react,” spokesperson Lilian Kim said in an email. “The incident was immediately reported to the appropriate authorities, and we are working with them to understand the circumstances and any impacts on the whale.” Witness video submitted to CTV News, purportedly taken from the ferry, appears to show blood in the water following the collision. Screams can be heard off camera, followed one person saying “We hit it,” and another saying “The boat cut it.” The extent of the cetacean’s injuries is unclear. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said staff are still working to identify the whale and asses its condition. Preliminary details indicate there were two humpbacks “observed in close proximity” at the time of the incident, and that one was struck by the front of the ferry, the DFO said in a statement. The DFO noted that all vessel operators are required by law to report accidental contact with marine mammals right away, as happened in this case. B.C. Ferries said crews receive “specialized training in whale awareness” and follow established protocols to reduce the risk of such collisions, but that accidents can still occur. “Protecting marine life is an important responsibility for B.C. Ferries,” Kim said. “We take incidents like this very seriously and will continue working with our partners to reduce risks to marine mammals.”
