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THE GUARDIAN
May 2025
 

‘It’s like putting a whale in a blender’: the rise of deadly ship collisions in Chile



On average, five whales struck by ships wash up on the country’s beaches each year, the highest in the world – and far more remain undiscovered, say researchers

The memory of a blue whale gliding past his small boat haunts Patricio Ortiz. A deep wound disfigured the cetacean’s giant body – a big chunk had been ripped from its dorsal fin. Cargo ships are the only adversary capable of inflicting such harm on a blue whale, he says.

“Nothing can be done when they’re up against those floating monsters.”

Ortiz captains whale-watching expeditions for researchers and small tourist groups and has worked in Chile’s Chañaral de Aceituno since 1978 – initially as a fisher. “The whales are why I’ve stayed.”

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 Hi, I'm Charis McGowan, a British-Caribbean writer based between London, UK, and Santiago, Chile.

I’ve been a regular news stringer in Chile for over eight years, contributing to outlets including The Guardian, Al Jazeera, the BBC, The Telegraph, and more. My work primarily focuses on human rights and social justice. Additionally, I am the former Music Editor-at-Large at gal-dem, where I wrote extensively about music and culture with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.

I’m open to commissions, collaborations, talks, and projects.
 
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Or email me at: charismcgowan at gmail.com