Overview
- A Carteret Fire Department marine unit was struck and rapidly flooded after a whale breached directly beneath its stern around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel before it sank.
- Nearby civilians on a jet ski and a recreational boat pulled the firefighters from the water and the Perth Amboy Fire Department marine unit then helped bring them to shore.
- All crew members survived with no injuries, a result officials credited to properly fitted life jackets worn by everyone aboard.
- The fireboat suffered catastrophic damage and sank; authorities say the circumstances remain under review and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
- Researchers note rising whale sightings in the New York Bight as waters recover, a trend that can increase the risk of vessel–whale collisions in busy port channels and could prompt future safety or routing reviews.