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A Japanese fishing boat, assumed to be debris from last year's devastating tsunami, floats 120 nautical miles off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It's expected to take 50 days to hit land.
SEATTLE -- A 150-foot fishing boat that washed away last March following Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami has been spotted off the coast of British Columbia, NBC station KING 5 of Seattle reported Friday.
The boat was found floating right side up about 120 nautical miles off the Queen Charlotte Islands, the office of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told KING 5 News.
KING 5 said that Japanese officials had confirmed that the boat was lost after the tsunami. It is estimated the boat would make landfall in about 50 days, but it will likely be removed by then because it is a hazard to navigation, KING 5 reported.
This is the first large piece of debris found off the North American coast confirmed to have been washed from Japan by the tsunami, KING 5 said.
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I'm not surprised that it turned up where it did, WHEN it did; I am, however, a bit surprised that it was still afloat when it was found.
I agree with whoever said to give it back to Japan to put in a museum exhibit; that's the best idea of all! Sinking it would be stupid for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is the historical value this boat will have.
I hope that this past year has brought some peace and healing to those affected by the tsunami. It was a devastating time, so here's hoping that Japan will continue to recover rapidly.
Yes, the Japanese people have respectfully requested that any tsunami debris which is found, be compassionately returned.
The reason of course is obvious: One American beachcomber's flotsam might be a treasured object to those in Japan who lost loved ones in the disaster. Indeed, it may be the only thing they have left of those who perished in the tragedy.
www (dot) miyakojima-kids.net/Tsunami-Debris-E.html
"PROJECT SAVING MEMORIES"
(sorry can't post links yet)
here's another story from British Columbia
news.nationalpost (dot) com/2012/03/21/b-c-towns-preparing-to-handle-incoming-debris-from-last-years-japan-tsunami
it would probably be pretty easy to know if something found has any sentimental value
but unforunately, no doubt there will be an overabundance of "scavengers" out there as well
one can only hope that MOST folks will have a heart and do the right thing
Please tell me how it could have been found if it had sunk somewhere in the Pacific? Wouldn't it almost have to still be afloat in order to be found?
ABC...you are actually beginning to become an irritant. Stop it. If you have something other than a condescending/snide remark to say, we welcome it but other than that, just hush...really.
Actually ABC, objects are often found floating just below the surface. Its hell when folks rain on your parade like that, isn't it?
Terrible trajedy...and now, we are about to inherit the aftermath. Call in an air strike!!! That would be cool.
Let japan do the clean up. They have the money. they just won't admit to it.
We did drop two nuclear bombs on them, I think the least we could do is give the freakin' boat back if the owner's still alive. If not, maybe some kind hearted American (I do mean that in the most sincere-Frank Cappra-the-way-Americans-should-be-kind-of-way) could find the fundage, fix it back up and donate it to the hard hit communities that could really use it (obviously this boat does not want to die). Trust me, when the big one hits in the Northwest (and it will), and we get hit with a tsunami, we'll be glad we paid it forward in advance. Just because you're nice doesn't mean you're weak. Or a socialist. Just a decent American.
Something else to think about- the insurance claim on the boat has probably already gone through the system and been paid off by now. It's been a year. That means the boat DOES NOT belong to the original owners, but to the insurance company, or am I mistaken.? At any rate, in a country where fishing is survival, the owners have undoubtedly moved on by now. Probably with an ex-Korean or Chinese 2nd hander in much better condition.
Once the vessel is unmanned or adrift. The next person that can take control of the vessel, can claim salvage rights...
In other words once you lose control of your vessel, even if you are still on it. The next person that can control your vessel, can obtain ownership... Ha! Ha!
As stated in Title 40 of the U. S. Code of Federal Regulations, "Marine salvage operations generally fall into five categories: afloat salvage; offshore salvage; river and harbor clearance; cargo salvage; and rescue towing"--such as towing you in after you run out of gas.
Read more: How to Avoid Salvage Rights on Boat Towing | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5800945_avoid-salvage-rights-boat-towing.html#ixzz1q2Jxvn5C
My primary point is that the owners are likely not interested in it anymore and have probably replaced it by now. Unless they left the keys to the vault holding the Hope Diamond, I imagine the thing isn't worth landing a salvage crew on. For 150 feet of boat, I don't imagine many Asian scrap dealers would go through the trouble either.
I hope a brand new Subaru WRZ washes up on shore here in Alaska with the keys still in it!!----Hey just wishin!
haha! wishful thinking , but most likely one of those ugly "microwave oven" looking nissan cubes will wash up as they are all light and plastic filled
hmmmmm... most of these comments seem unrealated to the article... why waste your time?
i hope that a giant peanut and jelly sandwich washes up on the beach and we all get to eat it duhhh!!!!
I hope.... well I hope.... uhh... that I can still spell enough to write a stupid post on here duhh-huh-huh
You didn't mind reading all of those stupid posts, now did you?
I live on the Oregon Coast and have found a few pieces of garbage with Japanese writing, just plastic bottles so far. As for who is going to clean it up, it will be those of us who regularly walk the beaches and carry garbage off. Twice yearly we have a beach clean-up, where volunteers hit the beaches and carry tons of garbage off the beach, and some of those volunteers come a long way to participate. I always take a bag while walking the beach, and most of the time I find garbage. Any volunteers?
i usually just burn the garbage that washes up on the beach ,unless its something cool like wreckage or recyclables
How do you lose a 150 foot ship for a year? The owners must have died in the tidal wave.
It's a Trojan Horse and full of Japanese warriors. No wait a minute the Japanese would never stoop to a sneak attack like that.
Most of the Japanese ships, that arrive with Toyotas, Komatsus and Sonys leave the USA empty, since they don't buy much from us. If this stuff starts washing up on our shores then we should charge the Japanese for the cleanup and then demand that they load it up, for the return voyage back to the motherland.
We already used our overly stretched military to help them after the flood. We need to stop using our military as the world's Red Cross. After all, we're already playing world's policeman to the world's richest and most prosperous countries (the ones that can afford to lend us hundreds of billions each year).
We have military bases over there....and yes, we already have military ships over there as well. Or, we could do like you suggest and be stupid to a strong ally and trading partner.
so much for being impressed with a 16 yr. old girl sailing solo around the globe......that boat did it all by itself!!!!!!!!LOL
Wow! Could a past tsunami have created the "Flying Dutchman"?!
Looks like a new reef to me.
Tsunami fishing boat of death! But seriously, it is absolutely chilling to think about the magnitude of the wave that hit Japan. I can't think of anything more frightening than standing in the path of it and actually seeing it rushing toward you. You have to be thinking, "This is it. This is the end of everything I know."
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
suprised somali pirates didn't claim it :P
if that boat could talk...the stories it could tell about floating around the ocean for the last year.
is it still glowing at night from the radiation??!
Scrap it...$$$ From Scrap Send to Tornado victims for Emergency Housing/Food Etc.
How did they not see this off the coast of Japan, before it started its treck across the Pacific? Sounds like an insurance job to me. I could understand if FEMA was involved, but they are not.
I wonder if there are any dead bodies on board???
I just love how all the busy bodies here are willing to dispose of someone else's property. What a bunch of goobers y'all are. That little Trawler has value, it has fed many people during its lifetime, and will again. If you look at the picture you have, you would see a vessel that is riding high. So that means not much if any water below the deck. Rust is easily sand blasted off, and paint will make it like new looking. I am willing to bet the engine is just as high and just as dry as the boat looks. That means it will with a few hours work start right up.
International or Admiralty Law allows for someone to take possession, which by this time is likely alreadt done. Salvage fees and expenses will be met by either possession or Insurance money, all depending negotiations. That vessel in fair to good operating condition, with deck machinery operating usually sell for $100,000 to $150,000 not much more. But 5 to 8 people made a living on her, that's her value.