Ferry reportedly hits, possibly kills humpback near Mukilteo
MUKILTEO — Biologists and volunteers were closely watching coastal waters Tuesday, a day after a Washington state ferry reportedly hit and possibly killed a humpback whale during the vessel’s run between Clinton and Mukilteo.
Photos, video and witness reports were being reviewed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday as officials “try to put together and understand what happened and to ascertain what the injuries are,” said Michael Milstein, an agency spokesman.
Washington State Ferries also is reviewing photos and videos of the incident. Although the crew didn’t believe at the time that the ferry struck a whale, it is likely that is the case, said Ian Sterling, a spokesman for the state ferry system.
“Our guys as far as people in the wheelhouse didn’t believe they struck an animal,” Sterling said.
“They didn’t feel anything,” he said. “They didn’t see anything.”
Video posted on Facebook by the Pacific Whale Watch Association shows the whale taking a breath at the surface before vanishing. The video was taken by Ariel Yseth, who was a guest aboard the commercial whale-watch vessel Saratoga.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/ferry-possibly-hit-and-killed-humpback-whale-near-mukilteo/