An attack by 6 killer whales 2.8 kilometers from Culatra Island has left a 15 metre French catamaran without a rudder, forcing those onboard to be rescued by the maritime authority.
The attack took place late morning, and according Bertrand d'Enquin, a French businessman in the nautical business and a crew member, “lasted almost 50 minutes, the 6 orcas came to hit our hull several times. The boat was stationary, the sea had some waves, but no wind.”
The catamaran, with two crew on board, suffered some damage and was left without a rudder. The Captaincy of the Port of Olhão dispatched a lifeboat, which then towed the catamaran to Porto da Culatra.
The first cases of interactions on the Portuguese coast were recorded in 2020, when some younger killer whales began to interact with vessels, mainly sailboats, although there were also some cases with fishing and inflatable vessels. Attacks by orcas on vessels off the Portuguese coast have become more and more numerous since then. They are mainly attracted to the rudder of vessels and, in some cases, the interactions have caused serious damage that prevented the boats from sailing, as they were unable to set a course.
A new acoustic device to dissuade orcas from interacting and endangering recreational sailing boats will be tested this summer. There are already several navigators who avoid national waters.
Regarding swimming in the sea, the captain of the Port of Faro says that orcas "do not attack", maintaining that there is no danger.
