Second boat sunk by Orcas

[PhillM]

Report here

There still appears to little understanding about why this keeps happening and the advice appears to just be passive, don't let them see you, don't try to frighten them - just wait for them to get bored and go away.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

This is terrible news. We have two yachts on delivery quite close to where this happened.

Pete

 

[robmcg]

I certainly think GPS tagging of the pod would help as suggested.

 

[Sandy]

I certainly think GPS tagging of the pod would help as suggested.

I'd be interested on how the location of the pod is communicated to vessels in the area.

 

[xyachtdave]

I'd be interested on how the location of the pod is communicated to vessels in the area.

Keep it old school, couple of large yellow barrels will do the job!

 

[michael_w]

A good mate's boat was attacked at night. A well aimed parachute flare scared them away. I'd like to have a few of these onboard.

 

[Stingo]

A good mate's boat was attacked at night. A well aimed parachute flare scared them away. I'd like to have a few of these onboard.

That's what @shan needs for her snotty nose.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

I'd be interested on how the location of the pod is communicated to vessels in the area.

Add their last known location to the Marine Safety Information broadcast on Navtex, along with the lighthouses that are not working, or buoys gone missing, etc.

 

[Daydream believer]

Would a verry pistol with some flares aimed at the surrounding water help?
No need to hurt the whales. Just persuade them to leave.
Alternatively, are there no detonators that can be dropped into the water? I understand that Seismic activity chases whales away, so whilst I am not suggesting bombs or grenades , surely a small shock could work. Sort of thing that the SAS used in the Iranian embassy seige, but smaller.

 

[robmcg]

I think someone needs to come up with a viable deterrent that dissuades the Orca behaviour without doing long term harm to the animals. If things don't change I fear that particular pod may end up having to be euthanised . If only they would be happy to play with a quickly deployed beach ball in lieu of your rudder.

 

[andsarkit]

When I did seismic surveying 45 years ago the explosives we used were quite effective for killing fish. The local fishermen would follow along behind and scoop up the fish. They now use high pressure air guns for similar effect. A smaller version could be devised to give any local orcas a headache and distract the attack. A diving tank could probably supply sufficient air pressure.
There was some work done on the effects of seismic surveying on whales Seismic air gun response

 

[Fr J Hackett]

What about electro fishing gear

 

[capnsensible]

What about the Japanese solution?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

What about the Japanese solution?

I don't think you will be able to get them to commit Hari Kari

 

[PhillM]

Would a verry pistol with some flares aimed at the surrounding water help?
No need to hurt the whales. Just persuade them to leave.
Alternatively, are there no detonators that can be dropped into the water? I understand that Seismic activity chases whales away, so whilst I am not suggesting bombs or grenades , surely a small shock could work. Sort of thing that the SAS used in the Iranian embassy seige, but smaller.

I wonder if that might have the opposite effect, enrage them and make then think they need to attack? Not that I know anything about the psychology of Orcas.

 

[capnsensible]

I don't think you will be able to get them to commit Hari Kari

Whale meat again.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

How about pumping something noxious down the heads? I mean more noxious than usual. eg. Bitrex

 

[Habebty]

Add their last known location to the Marine Safety Information broadcast on Navtex, along with the lighthouses that are not working, or buoys gone missing, etc.

AIS transmitter tag?

 

[oldharry]

What's with this particualr Pod? As I understand it they are the only ones attacking boats? Comments from other parts of the world suggest this behaviour is unique. Maybe the Portugese fishing fleet has been hassling them someway, intentionally or otherwise, so they perceive large floaty objects as a threat.

We dont yet have details (do we?) of how they sank it. Could it be the usual knocking rudders about causing an unstoppable leak. Or was it a concerted attack with intent to damage or destroy the boat concerned?

If they were a little more boisterous than usual they may simply have damaged the rudder mounting causing a large and inaccessible leak which could not be contained by the onboard pumps.

 

[Daydream believer]

I wonder if that might have the opposite effect, enrage them and make then think they need to attack? Not that I know anything about the psychology of Orcas.

Good point.----- Thinking abouthat. Do you reckon that they are all female?