Whales and Ship Collisions: Debunking Moby Dick Myth with Historical Evidence

Introduction

While the compelling tale of Moby Dick has captured the imagination of literature enthusiasts for centuries, the historical accuracy of the narrative of a huge whale sinking the whaling ship Pequod is often questioned. In this article, we explore the reality of whale-ship interactions, focusing on documented cases of whales colliding with and potentially sinking ships.

Factual Controversy: The Moby Dick Myth

The assertion that whales actively seek to sink ships, as depicted in Moby Dick, is a literary device rather than a real-world occurrence. However, historical records and various accounts offer insights into instances where whales have been involved in significant interactions, sometimes colliding with ships.

Historical Accounts of Whale Ship Collisions

Historically, there have been documented instances of whale-ship collisions, leading to damage or, in rare cases, the sinking of ships. Here are some examples:

Sea Monster in the Sea of Marmara

Procopius, a Byzantine historian, wrote in the 6th century about a sea monster that terrorized the Sea of Marmara for half a century, sinking numerous small ships before it was finally killed. The species of the monster is unidentified, but the account provides an early example of unusual interactions between marine creatures and ships.

Whale Collisions with Wooden Ships

There are documented cases where whales have collided with ships, causing damage and even sinking them:

Unknown Incident (Sea Monster): A sea monster (possibly a whale) reportedly terrorized the Sea of Marmara for fifty years, sinking ships until it was killed. Whale Jumping onto Ship: In one remarkable incident, it was said that a whale leaped out of the ocean at night and landed on a ship, likely by accident. This ship was a whaling vessel that had pioneered exploring the Pacific Ocean for whales a few years prior. Whale Tail Smash: Another account describes a whale using its tail to smash a ship. Willful Collision: In another scenario, a whale was on a collision course with a ship for some distance, neither the whale nor the ship changed course. The ship narrowly avoided a direct hit at the last moment, possibly an attempt to pass under the ship. Fin Whales and Harpooning: In the early 20th century, fin whales killed by explosive harpoons thrashed around and rammed into whaling ships, leading to their sinking. An old sailor mentioned witnessing whales attacking ships in Arctic waters. US Whaling Ships: Three known cases of US wooden whaling ships being sunk by collisions with large sperm whales. The Kathleen was sunk around 1903, and the Anne Alexander around 1851. The Essex, which was sunk in 1820 by a whale, was one of the main inspirations for Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.

These accounts, while dramatic, highlight the rare and dangerous encounters that could occur.

Attacks by Other Marine Life

Beyond whales, other marine life could also pose a threat to ships. These include:

Giant Cephalopods

There are accounts of ships being sunk by giant cephalopods, such as octopi or squid. However, the most plausible case is the schooner Pearl, which was reportedly sunk in the Bay of Bengal in 1872. The veracity of the story is unknown.

Basking Sharks and Giant Squid

In the 1930s, a basking shark, believed to be much smaller than the ship, rammed a Scottish steamship but caused no damage, with the reason for the attack being unknown. Giant squid have sometimes been seen trying to attack large ships, though the reasons for such behavior are also unknown.

Sea Creatures and Modern Shipping

More recently, in 1959, the US submarine Sea Dragon suffered damage during its sea trials after colliding with what was believed to be a whale or shark. Tiny cookiecutter sharks often bite small rubber parts on submarines. Additionally, a research submarine observed huge six-gill sharks attempting to drive each other off a whale carcass, leading to an unexpected chase and pursuit.

In summary, while the narrative of Moby Dick may be a literary exaggeration, there are historical records and contemporary accounts of whales and other marine life colliding with and, in rare cases, sinking ships. These interactions highlight the complex and occasionally perilous relationship between ships and marine life.