A cruise ship in the port of Brooklyn reported that a dead whale had caught onto the ship's bow on May 4.

Officials say the whale was an approximately 44-foot Sei whale.

Sei whales are an endangered species that can usually be found in deeper waters far off the coastline.

The whale has since been towed to New Jersey and is undergoing bone and tissue sampling, which will help biologists determine the official cause of death.

Mariners on the East Coast are encouraged to slow their vessel speed, stay alert and report any sighting of whales or injured marine life.