Cruise ship docks in New York City Harbor with a 44-foot-long, dead, endangered whale trapped on its bow

A cruise ship pulled into a New York City port Saturday with a 44-foot-long, endangered whale lying dead across its bow.

An MSC Cruises spokesman said the whale was on the MSC Meraviglia, which was docked in Brooklyn Harbor before heading to its next destination.

“It is with great regret that we can confirm that a whale was discovered on the bow of our ship on Saturday as the ship approached New York Harbor,” Sidney Sterling, director of media relations for MSC Cruises, told Fox News Digital. “We immediately notified that the relevant authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the whale.

The whale, identified as an endangered sei whale, was caught on the bow of the ship as it arrived in Brooklyn on Saturday, said Andrea Gomez, fisheries spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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A cruise ship entered a New York City port with a 44-foot-long dead whale across its bow, naval authorities said. (Atlantic Marine Conservation Society)

“Sea whales are critically endangered and are typically observed in deeper waters far from shore. NOAA Law Enforcement is investigating this incident,” Gomez said.

Gomez continued, saying that the whale was relocated and towed to the shores of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to allow greater access to heavy equipment and resources to conduct a necropsy examination, which is an autopsy of animals acts.

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The whale, identified as an endangered sei whale, was caught on the bow of the ship as it arrived in Brooklyn Harbor on Saturday, said Andrea Gomez, fisheries spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Atlantic Marine Conservation Society)

“The right fin had broken bones and there was evidence of tissue injury along the right scapular region,” Gomez said.

Gomez said tissue and bone samples collected during the survey will help biologists determine whether the cruise ship struck the whale while it was still alive or if it was already dead.

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“We are deeply saddened by the loss of all marine life. We have taken extensive measures to prevent collisions, such as training all of our deck officers with the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), and we follow regulations to protect cetaceans and other marine life,” Sterling said. ” This includes changing travel routes in certain regions to avoid whales, and we will continue to evaluate and update our procedures with our partners and authorities.”