Norwegian crew survives orca attack as tourist boat sinks off Portugal

A Norwegian crew aboard the Najad 570 Nova Vida said they survived a harrowing attack by a pod of killer whales off the coast of Portugal, just as a nearby tourist boat sank after being attacked by the same orcas. The incident unfolded Saturday near Cascais, with the Najad 570 traveling from Cascais toward Sines when the orcas struck the vessel’s rudder and helm, according to video footage from the crew that has circulated online.

The vessel’s steering wheels spun and the boat was knocked violently as the orcas circled, with one six-meter whale reportedly passing along the side. The crew said they slammed the boat into reverse in an effort to regain control, but the rudder sustained heavy damage and the Nova Vida began to lose direction, turning in circles as a tracker showed it circling eight times. In a bid to deter the predators, the crew used what they had at hand and poured vinegar into the surrounding water in hopes it would discourage further attacks. The decision came after several minutes of intense pressure on the rudder and repeated impacts that left the crew in disbelief about the situation.

The attack on the Nova Vida ultimately redirected the pod toward a nearby vessel, the Oceanview, which had been in the same area. The Oceanview soon joined the pod engaged in a separate attack on the sinking boat, as the Nova Vida fought to keep its own vessel under control. The scene was captured in part by the Netflix-length video footage and later shared with press outlets. The Nova Vida’s crew continued to improvise, pouring liquid from a large water bottle into the water around the boat to help stabilize it, as reported by the sailors and described in their accounts to media partners.

After several tense minutes and continued pressure on the rudder, the orcas redirected toward the Oceanview, a sightseeing vessel that was attacked by the same pod. The Oceanview was later described as having been ravaged by the orcas and ultimately sank, with all five people on board rescued. The Nova Vida, meanwhile, continued to struggle with control and spent more than an hour and a half awaiting assistance while the crew tried to maintain the vessel’s stability and avoid a capsizing.

The Nova Vida managed to install an emergency rudder and, with help from a coast guard rib that accompanied the Najad 570, made headway back to Cascais, roughly 10 nautical miles to the north. The ship’s crew plans to undergo a few weeks of repairs before setting sail again. One crew member, Morten, indicated plans to pilot the battle-hardened vessel across the Atlantic in the future. Local media outlets noted that four people were rescued after being rammed by the same pod that attacked the Oceanview, underscoring the broader risk posed by the Lisbon coast’s orca activity. The Nova Vida sustained significant but non-critical damage in the attack and would require time for repairs.

Coast guard officials reported that the Oceanview sinking occurred about five nautical miles from Fonte da Telha, and they said four people who had been on a nearby sailboat in Costa da Caparica were later rescued after suffering successive collisions caused by orcas before being escorted to Cascais. Attacks of this kind have become more widely reported in recent years; while no humans have been seriously injured in these incidents, authorities say roughly 500 attacks occurred between 2020 and 2023, with roughly 20% of vessels damaged and several ships lost.

The incident adds to a pattern of frequent orca encounters along the Portuguese coast that sailors and researchers say underscores both the intelligence of the animals and the ongoing risk to small boats in the area. The Nova Vida’s crew said they will keep monitoring the region and plan for future journeys only after the vessel has undergone necessary repairs. The Portuguese coast guard said it would continue to respond to emergencies and coordinate rescues when orcas’ movements threaten vessels in the area, and authorities stressed that while encounters are not rare, most do not result in casualties or catastrophic damage. The Nova Vida’s crew said they were grateful for the assistance they received and that they would take time to reflect on the event while resuming their voyage preparations in the coming weeks.