Watch as whales breach the water’s surface within seconds
A pod of humpback whales surfaced one after another in Hoonah, Alaska, making a spectacular sight.
New Jersey firefighters were returning from a Fourth of July security patrol when a whale exploded beneath their boat, giving the firefighters seconds to escape before it began to take on water.
According to the Carteret Fire Department and Emergency Services Division, the incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time on July 4 south of Arthur Kill at the mouth of Raritan Bay off the South Shore of Staten Island. The Marines were returning to Carteret waters after supporting routine regional security in the New York and New Jersey port area.
The whale crawled under the stern and collided with the ship, causing what the fire department said was “catastrophic damage.”
“The boat quickly began taking on water and the firefighters on board abandoned the boat within seconds,” the department said in a July 5 news release.
A nearby recreational jet ski operator and another boater immediately assisted the firefighters, the department said. Perth Amboy Fire Department Marine Corps and members of FMBA Local 58/258, a branch of the fire union, also assisted in rescuing the firefighters from the waterway.
The ministry said all personnel on board survived and no one was injured.
The ministry said recreational vessels told authorities they had seen a pod of whales entering the area around the time of the collision. The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.
“No one expected something like this to happen.”
The fire department said the incident was unusual for the Marine Corps, which routinely trains to respond to water rescues, maritime emergencies, fires and vehicle accidents.
The ministry said, “No one expected such an event.” “It is understandable that everyone involved is upset, but we are truly grateful that everyone was able to return safely to their families.”
The department also noted that all firefighters on board the vessel were wearing personal flotation devices at the time of the collision, and emphasized the importance of wearing life jackets.
The department thanked numerous agencies, labor organizations and public officials for their assistance following the incident, including Carteret Mayor Dan Lyman, the Carteret Borough Council, the Jersey City Fire Department, and the New Jersey Regional Fire Boat Task Force.
“Yesterday’s events were a stark reminder that every emergency response, no matter how routine the mission, carries risks,” the ministry said. “I am truly grateful that all members were able to return home safely.”
Carteret is a borough in northeastern Middlesex County, New Jersey, across the Arthur Kill Channel from Staten Island.
