and reason 68 why cruise lines are evil. how sad.

[Guest guest]

Ship docks in Vancouver with dead whale on bow

Updated Sat. Jul. 25 2009 9:54 PM ET

 

CTV.ca News Staff

 

Hundreds of people got an unexpected eyeful on Saturday, when a cruise

ship arrived at the Port of Vancouver with a dead whale lodged in its

bow.

 

Some took pictures, while others just stood and stared.

 

The 16-metre fin whale was wedged between the bow and the hull of the

Princess Cruise Lines' Sapphire Princess when it docked at the Canada

Place terminal.

 

Fins are the second largest marine mammal after blue whales. Typically

the species is extremely rare in local B.C. waters and likely would

have been struck off the coast of northern B.C.

 

Craig Delahunt, who works for Tymac Launch Service at the port, says

these type of spearings are incredibly rare. In fact, over a 20-year

career at the port, he said such spearings have only occurred three

times.

 

" Basically it's like a train coming through. It just hits them,'' he

said. " That bow is like a spear. Once they're hit, it usually breaks

their back, killing them almost instantly. "

 

Fisheries & Oceans Canada is obligated under the Species at Risk Act

to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

 

The last whale impalement discovered in Vancouver was ten years ago.

The carcass of that whale was taken north to Telegraph Cove, where it

was put on display a whale watching centre.