A cruise ship has arrived at port with a deceased endangered whale trapped on its front end.

It was a tragic sight on Saturday as a 44-foot-long whale was discovered dead at the bow of the MSC Meraviglia cruise ship. The ship had arrived at the Port of Brooklyn in New York City, with the whale still stuck on its bow. Despite the efforts of the crew, the whale could not be saved and the ship continued on its route.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, MSC Cruises spokesperson Sidney Sterling expressed deep regret over the incident. "We can confirm with deep regret that on Saturday a whale was discovered on the bow of our ship as the vessel approached the port of New York. We immediately notified the relevant authorities, who are now conducting an examination of the whale."

The whale was identified as a female Sei whale, an endangered species that typically resides in deeper waters far from the coastline. The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society shared on Facebook that the whale's presence on the bow of the ship was a rare and concerning occurrence.

Videos shared on YouTube captured the whale floating at the bow of the ship, with the Statue of Liberty visible in the background. In order to conduct a proper investigation, the whale was towed to Sandy Hook in New Jersey where it could be examined by experts. "We towed the whale to shore at Sandy Hook in New Jersey to allow for better access to heavy equipment and resources to conduct a necropsy," said the conservation society.

During the autopsy, it was discovered that the whale had suffered trauma along its right shoulder blade and a fractured right flipper. Despite these injuries, the whale was still filled with food. Samples of tissue and bone were collected to determine if the ship's interaction with the whale was the cause of its death.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the incident. "The animal autopsy revealed evidence of tissue trauma along the right shoulder blade region and a right flipper fracture," stated the organization.

MSC Cruises spokesperson Sidney Sterling expressed the cruise line's sadness over the loss of the whale. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of any marine life. We have comprehensive measures in place to help avoid collisions, such as training all our deck officers with the Ocean Research & Conservation Association. We also follow regulations designed to protect whales and other marine life."

In light of this tragic incident, MSC Cruises will continue to evaluate and update their procedures in collaboration with their partners and authorities. "This includes altering itineraries in certain regions to avoid whales and we will continue to evaluate and update our procedures with our partners and the authorities," said Sterling. It is clear that the safety and well-being of marine life is a top priority for the cruise line.

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