15th May 2024, 20:40
Government issues advice after yacht rammed by orcas
Published by GBC News
The Government is urging mariners to take precautions, after a yacht sank in the Strait after it was rammed by orcas.
The 15-metre Alboran Coñac encountered the orcas in Moroccan waters on Sunday.
According to reports in the international media, passengers on the Alboran Coñac said the orcas rammed the hull and rudder, after which the boat began to take on water.
They alerted the rescue services and were taken onboard by an oil tanker, which brought them to Gibraltar - while the yacht, left adrift, eventually sank.
In response to GBC questions, the Port said the two passengers, who were Spanish passport holders, did not need medical help: they disembarked in and then left Gibraltar. The Port passed on their personal details at the request of the Tarifa rescue coordination centre.
It's the latest in a series of encounters with orcas over recent years which have seen some boats damaged or sunk.
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Following this latest incident, the Government has issued advice in the event of an orca interacting with a vessel within BGTW.
- Vessels should not stop, and head to shallower waters
- Crew should not stand in areas of vessel where they are likely to fall overboard
- The encounter should be reported to Giraltar VTS on channel 16
- A reminder that under no circumstances must any orca be harmed. Repelling techniques cannot be used. This would be in contravention of the Nature protection Act
- And where possible, the incident should be documented through photos or videos.
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For it’s part, the Spanish Environment Ministry has cautioned mariners to take extreme precautions in the area stretching from the Strait to the Gulf of Cadiz - especially between April and August, when increased numbers of tuna attract the orcas.
It says it believes the behaviour is not aggressive, but playful; nonetheless, it advises people to avoid the orcas, and to stay as close as possible to the coast.
And, it asks people not to take deterrent measures that could kill, hurt or distress the orcas - instead, in an encounter, the Spanish Government says you should head for shallower waters, and contact Salvamento Maritimo.