Killer whales have been observed striking a 12-meter sailing vessel off Brittany, France, roughly 1,300 kilometers north of the Strait of Gibraltar, an area where several similar events have been recorded before. The report comes from The Telegram and adds to a growing pattern of cetacean incidents near European and North African shores.
The encounter occurred on July 16 when two juvenile orcas approached the vessel’s edge and caused substantial damage to the steering system. After the crew called for assistance, local coast guard responders escorted the distressed boat to the harbor at Gilvinek, ensuring the crew’s safety as the vessel underwent repairs. [Citation: The Telegram]
Across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, there have been nearly 700 documented episodes of killer whale interactions with ships since July 2020. In most cases, these encounters led to minor or significant hull or rudder damage, underscoring a recurrent risk to navigation in these crowded sea lanes. [Citation: The Telegram]
Industry and maritime researchers note a recurring pattern: the cetaceans often target rudders, a behavior that can disable a vessel’s steering and complicate course adjustments. This type of attack has been documented in various busy maritime corridors and can require quick, coordinated responses from nearby ships and coast guards to prevent potential capsizing or stranded vessels. [Citation: The Telegram]
Experts point out that the earlier focus of killer whale aggression tended to center on areas like the Strait of Gibraltar, where warm currents and abundant prey attract large pods. The Brittany incident raises questions about migration routes and the possibility that behavioral traits are spreading between local populations, potentially signaling shifts in migratory patterns or social learning among pods. [Citation: The Telegram]
Some researchers have previously explored why these predators appear to sink ships carrying people or cargo in parts of the Mediterranean. The latest event off Brittany adds a data point to ongoing inquiries about the drivers behind such aggressive encounters and what they may reveal about changing ocean dynamics, pod structure, and human–cetacean interactions at sea. [Citation: The Telegram]