A New Jersey fireboat crew was forced to abandon ship on July 4 after their vessel was struck from below by a surfacing whale in Raritan Bay. The Carteret Fire Department’s Marine 2 unit was operating south of the Arthur Kill at around 4:30 p.m. when, according to Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman, the boat “was violently and suddenly struck under the stern by a surfacing whale,” causing catastrophic damage.

The fireboat immediately took on water, and all firefighters aboard abandoned the vessel within seconds of the strike. Every crew member was wearing a required life jacket, and no injuries were reported. A nearby jet ski operator, a recreational boater and the Perth Amboy Fire Department’s marine crew pulled the firefighters from the channel. Witnesses reported a pod of whales periodically breaching in the area both before and after the incident.

The crew had been serving on a marine security detail tied to Independence Day festivities around New York/New Jersey Harbor. The mayor noted that while the department trains for water rescues, fires and accidents, an incident like this “certainly leaves an impression,” adding that all personnel were resting with their families.

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