A Princess Cruise Lines employee looks at the carcass of a whale lodged at the bow of the cruise ship after docking in Vancouver, B.C., on July 25, 2009. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
VANCOUVER - Biologists with the Fisheries Department have removed a dead whale lodged in the bow of a cruise ship docked at the Port of Vancouver.
The Princess Cruise Lines Sapphire Princess arrived at the Canada Place terminal Saturday morning with the whale stuck on a part of the bow that goes through the water.
Tourists visiting one of the citys most impressive downtown destinations took pictures of the fin whale while some employees from the nearby Vancouver Convention Centre trickled over to stare at the animal.
Julie Benson, spokeswoman for the cruise line, said the whale was discovered at 6:30 a.m. PT as the vessel, which takes passengers to and from Alaska, was preparing to dock.
We are saddened and shocked by this discovery and sincerely regret the circumstances which led to the whales death, she said in a statement.
It is unknown how or when this could have happened as we have strict whale avoidance procedures in place when our ships are in the vicinity of marine life, she said.
We are not aware that any whales were sighted as the ship sailed through the Inside Passage to Vancouver (on Friday.)
