Cruise Ship Docks With Dead Whale On Bow

A luxury cruise ship has returned to port after a summer trip with a dead whale lodged on its bow.

The animal was discovered as the Sapphire Princess prepared to dock in Vancouver after travelling from Alaska. Officials from Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans later removed the carcass from the scene at the Canada Place terminal. Tourists stopped to take pictures of the whale, while employees from the nearby Vancouver Convention Centre and Pan Pacific Hotel also gathered to watch. Princess Cruise Lines, which operates the Sapphire Princess, said it did not know how or when the whale came to be stuck to the ship. The company said: "We were shocked and saddened by this discovery, and sincerely regret the circumstances which led to the whale's death. "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." The company insisted it was not aware of any whales being sighted as the ship sailed through the Inside Passage to Vancouver. The Canadian Coast Guard was notified as soon as the dead animal was discovered, Princess Cruise Lines said. Promising to co-operate with any inquiry, the firm added: "We take our responsibility to be good stewards of the marine environment very seriously, and have clear guidelines for our ships on how to operate if whales are sighted nearby, which include altering course and reducing speed as required." The Sapphire has four swimming pools, boutiques and a spa on board. She spends each summer in Alaska and travels to Mexico, Australia and the South Pacific at other times of year.