A New Jersey fire department boat was struck by a surfacing whale on Friday while returning from a marine security assignment in New York Harbor, officials said.

The collision caused catastrophic damage and forced firefighters to abandon the vessel as it quickly began taking on water near Raritan Bay.

All crew members escaped safely with no injuries, aided by nearby boaters and another fire department marine unit.

Officials said witnesses reported seeing multiple whales in the area before and after the incident, Fox News has reported.

The cause and circumstances of the whale strike remain under review, and it is unclear whether the animal was injured.