Orcas Attack Sailing Boat, Oil Tanker to the Rescue

A sailing boat, the Alboran Cognac, sank near the Strait of Gibraltar after being rammed by a pod of orcas. On Sunday, May 12, the two sailors aboard issued a distress call approximately 14 nautical miles from Cape Espartel, at the southern entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.

The sailors reported a sudden impact to the hull and rudder of their 15-meter-long boat. They informed authorities that the vessel was taking on water and feared additional impacts could cause it to sink.

The Spanish Coast Guard promptly responded, contacting the nearby oil tanker Lascaux, which was in Moroccan waters. Authorities instructed the sailors to put on life jackets, activate their AIS signal, and prepare a radio beacon to transmit distress signals if needed.

The Lascaux successfully located the distressed boat and rescued the two sailors. After the rescue, the Alboran Cognac sank.

This incident marks the first orca attack on a boat in 2024. Over the past four years, orcas have wrecked seven vessels, including five sailboats and two Moroccan fishing boats.