Killer Whales Sink Sailboat With 5 People on Board Miles Away From Portugal Coast; Why Orcas Attack Vessels?

A pod of ferocious killer whales sunk a tourist boat off the coast of Portugal. Five passengers have since been rescued.

The horrific incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when the 25-foot orcas tore a hole in the ship six kilometers from the port of Sines.

Orca Attack: Tourist Forced To Leave Boat After Sharks Destroy Vessel

According to local media, the crew of tourists was reportedly forced to abandon their boat when it began to take on water during intense ramming.

After jumping onto a life raft, they were picked up by a fishing boat that the Navy had informed. Thankfully, no one was hurt while aboard.

Five crew members were saved by a neighboring fishing vessel while working with the Portuguese Navy and the Captain of the Port of Sines.

"The Navy, through the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Lisbon, in conjunction with the Captain of the Port of Sines, coordinated, this morning, the rescue of five crew members who were on the life raft of their sailboat after it sunk following an interaction with orcas 11 km off the coast," said Portuguese Navy in a statement (via The Portugal News).

Soon after midnight, the sailboat itself sent out an alarm to the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Lisbon, indicating that it was losing water due to its encounter with orcas.

After the incident, the Portuguese Navy decided to notify everyone who was out in the region observing whales as a result.

"In the event of sighting these mammals, all sailors are advised to turn off the engine, in order to inhibit the rotation of the propeller, and immobilize the rudder door, thus demotivating these mammals to interact with the moving structures of the boats," said The Portuguese Navy per Daily Star.

The scary news follows an unsettling string of rogue orca attacks, with over 50 occurrences documented in 2020 and 2021, The UK Sun wrote.

The terrible experiences of sailors have been recounted, including how they feared for their lives as the whales repeatedly smashed their boats for hours and snapped off rudders.

Killer Whales in the Summer Portugal Coast

Orcas regularly go to Portugal's coast in the summer to feed on the tuna that live in the seas close to the Gibraltar Strait. Even though they are fierce predators of certain other marine creatures, they hardly ever attack humans when they are not in captivity.

Killer whales have acted violently at vessels in this region before. But it's the first time, a boat appears to have sunk due to the assault.

Orca boat assaults off the coast of Portugal have increased since 2020. Three young orcas were the assailants, according to the officials. The sailboat's hull and rudders appear to be the orcas' main targets for assault.

According to a 2020 BBC report, there were 40 orca assaults off the shores of Spain and Portugal in only six months. The attacks have continued ever since. A British couple was present on one occasion. They were abandoned miles off the Portuguese coast after their boat was assaulted.

A Facebook group concerning orca assaults claims that the Navy has begun investigating the most recent occurrence.

Orcas and Mental, Emotional Trauma

According to National Geographic, orcas are highly intelligent creatures with complex emotions. They have a history of mental trauma resulting from acting out. The 2013 movie about Tilikum, the Sea World killer whale in captivity, tackled this topic. Attacks may happen in the wild, but the cause is unknown.

Killer whales have been observed approaching fishing boats after learning that the lines may make for a quick meal, according to researchers. It's conceivable that this has encouraged some pods to approach vessels.

It's also possible that these alleged "attacks" are not malicious activities at all. According to scientists, the lively, gigantic creatures may approach boats out of curiosity. However, their "games" may appear frightening and dangerous, as male killer whales can grow to lengths of 26 feet and weigh 12,000 pounds.

According to Newsweek, a Facebook user who left a remark under the topic "Orca Attack - Iberia" stated that understanding more about the boats being attacked could make it easier to comprehend the motivations behind the orcas' behavior.

Check out more news and information on Ocean in Science Times.