Animals

In Naples, the whale at Molo Beverello has returned to the sea

It was the surprise of the day, so much so that security measures were also activated

by Davide Madeddu

24 February 2026aggiornato il 24 febbraio ore 9:50

Un cetaceo, probabilmente una balenottera, è comparso all'improvviso nell'area del Molo Beverello, arrivando a nuotare sin quasi sotto le banchine dove operano i mezzi veloci pper le isole, Napoli, 23 febbraio 2026. Ansa/Ciro Fusco

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The minke whale spotted yesterday in the waters of the Gulf of Naples, at the Beverello pier, may have returned to the sea. This is what emerges from the patrol activities carried out yesterday afternoon by the Coast Guard, following the report of the presence of an unidentified whale estimated to be around 10-12 metres long.

Since the first sighting of the cetacean in the harbour, around 10 a.m., no measures to suspend or restrict scheduled and commercial vessel traffic have ever been taken by the Harbour Master - Coast Guard.

The vessels, entering and leaving port and in transit, continued their activities regularly under the coordination of the Coast Guard. The two Coast Guard vessels ensured the safety and protection of the cetacean and the vessels in transit

The 8-metre whale surprise in the port of Naples

It was the surprise of the day yesterday, 23 February 2026, so much so that security measures were also activated and a temporary halt was ordered, later restored, to the navigation of hydrofoils to the islands in the Gulf of Naples. Now, however, the whale that arrived at Molo Beverello in Naples in the morning, where it remained for a few hours apparently disoriented, seems to have lost track.

The hypothesis is that the cetacean managed to leave the port of Naples after it had appeared in the morning in the area of the hydrofoils bound for the islands. A presence that, in addition to astonishment and interest, triggered the safety procedure.

Coast Guard units arrived at the scene with personnel from the Zooological Station Anton Dohrn and the Zoooprophylactic Institute of Portici on board, who monitored the situation throughout the morning.

An 8-metre specimen

Throughout the morning, the whale, a specimen at least 8 metres long, swam for a long time in the stretch of water in front of the Maschio Angioino, diving and then returning to the surface several times.

Vessel traffic arriving and departing from the Molo Beverello was initially blocked by the maritime authority, only to be partially resumed later and finally fully restored with hydrofoils diverted to routes away from the whale's course.

The last sighting at 16.

The arrival in the dock

The mammal suddenly appeared in the area of the Molo Beverello and swam almost under the docks where fast ferries to Ischia, Capri and Procida usually operate. According to a first hypothesis, he might have lost his bearings or tried to follow some ship entering the Neapolitan port.

The sighting around 10 a.m. by the staff of a Coast Guard boat, while leaving the harbour's Acton dock for ordinary surveillance activities at sea.

Bearing in mind that the port area in question is affected by intense maritime traffic, and in particular by hydrofoils and fast vessels that provide connections with the minor islands in the Gulf of Naples, the Port Authority of Naples ordered the deployment of a patrol boat in the area, which, together with the boat, provides a safety framework to protect the safety of the presumed whale and the vehicles in transit.