A New Jersey fireboat crew had to abandon ship July 4 after their vessel was struck by a whale surfacing in Raritan Bay.
The Carteret Fire Department’s Marine 2 unit was south of the Arthur Kill around 4:30 p.m. when the fireboat “was violently and suddenly struck under the stern by a surfacing whale breaching the water south of the Arthur Kill at the mouth of Raritan Bay, causing catastrophic damage to the vessel,” Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman said in a post on Facebook the next day.
“The boat immediately took on water, and all firefighters aboard had to immediately abandon the boat within seconds of the strike,” Reiman wrote.
“All fire personnel are safe, and no injuries have been reported. A nearby recreational vessel reported observing a pod of whales periodically breaching the water both prior to and following the incident,” the mayor added.
The firefighters were working on a marine security detail associated with the Independence Day festivities around the New York/New Jersey Harbor. “A special thanks to the recreational jet ski operator and additional boater, as well as the Perth Amboy Fire Dept Marine crew, for fishing our guys out of the channel.” Reiman wrote.
While the Carteret Fire Department “trains to rescue civilians from the water, fires and car accidents, something like this certainly leaves an impression and a person a bit shaken,” the mayor concluded. “Fortunately, no one was injured, and all are resting up with their families. All personnel had their required life jackets on, which helped to aid them prior to the arrival of assistance.”
