The yacht Grazie Mamma II recently took guests on a tour of the Mediterranean’s magnificent coastlines and archipelagos. However, on a recent voyage off the coast of Morocco, the boat came upon a pod of orcas, and things quickly went from bad to worse.

Morskie Mile, the yacht’s Polish owner, said that these aquatic monsters fiercely assaulted the yacht’s rudder for 45 minutes, inflicting substantial damage and a serious leak. Although the crew was able to leave the boat, rescue operations by the Moroccan Navy were ineffective in preventing it from sinking near Tanger Med.

This episode is part of a worrying pattern that has frightened sailors throughout the Iberian Peninsula’s western coast. Marine researchers have been looking at perplexing phenomena in which orcas engage in disruptive and occasionally harmful ways with vessels. At least four vessels have sunk as a result of these interactions in the last two years.

Orcas are the biggest members of the dolphin family and are noted for being sociable and lively. They are top predators that hunt sharks, whales, and other sea creatures. However, researchers have discovered unique behavior in a critically endangered species of orcas hunting in the Strait of Gibraltar since 2020. This gang has been generating alarm and uncertainty by targeting vessels on main routes in Portugal, Spain, and Morocco.

While the majority of these encounters take place in the waters along the coasts of southwest Europe and North Africa, there have been tales of orcas attacking a boat some 2,000 miles north of Scotland’s coast.

The causes of these interactions are still being debated among scholars. Some believe that juvenile orcas have evolved a propensity for playing with boat rudders, which has spread to other species. Others believe that the orcas’ ramming behaviour is a reaction to a bad encounter they had with boats.

Skippers navigating these seas have turned to Facebook groups dedicated to chronicling these encounters, whether funny or severe.

Greg Blackburn, a Gibraltar-based skipper, recalled his exciting summer of avoiding orcas. He experienced an orca attack in May, where they bit at the rudder of the boat he was driving. Fortunately, the ship made it back to shore.

Several yacht clubs, maritime rescue organizations, and environmentalists are working together to safeguard both a vulnerable species and sailors’ safety. The Cruising Association, which promotes safe sailing techniques, has developed orca encounter rules. Turning off autopilots and keeping a low profile are two examples. Skippers have also given anecdotal advice, like as spreading sand in the water and making loud noises to distract orcas from the boats.

Digital systems now record orca sightings and interactions in the region, assisting sailors in making educated decisions before setting sail. This gives them the option of either avoiding the animals or planning a route closer to the beach. 

Nonetheless, conservationists say that scaring orcas is not the solution because the ocean is their natural home.