Wrangell Sentinel -

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Authorities in Alaska say a whale struck the side of a state ferry traveling a scheduled route between Homer and Kodiak, possibly sustaining mortal injuries.

The ferry itself sustained damage to its starboard fin stabilizer, an element that helps make for a more comfortable ride in rougher waters, said Aurah Landau, a spokeswoman for the state transportation department.

But she said the vessel Tustumena was cleared to operate safely by the U.S. Coast Guard. The stabilizer isn’t a safety feature but a comfort feature, she said.

The ferry’s captain said the whale `...