A Princess Cruises ship operating in Alaska has struck and killed a whale near Juneau. Princess Cruises says the dead whale became stuck at the bow of the Sapphire Princess and the vessel stopped south of Douglas Island until the carcass was removed Wednesday afternoon. Princess spokesman Kirby Day says the dead whale was noticed about 8 a.m. as the ship was en route from Ketchikan to Juneau. Kaja Brix with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the animal appears to have been a juvenile humpback whale. Brix says the ship had to increase power to maintain speed early Wednesday morning, indicating the strike occurred then. A necropsy will be conducted.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)