Drifting ship to be sunk by Coast Guard
Drifting ship to be sunk by Coast Guard
Updated at 10:03 am today
The United States Coast Guard is preparing to sink a Japanese fishing boat adrift off the coast of Alaska that was washed out to sea by last year's tsunami.
The 60-metre Ryou-Un Maru has no lights, power or crew and the Coast Guard says it is a danger to other ships.
/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radionz.co.nz%2Fassets%2Fnews%2F4938%2Fhalf_000_Was6363980.jpg%3F1333662902)
The Ryou-Un Maru.
PHOTO: AFP/ US Coast Guard
It is currently about 170 nautical miles south-west of Sitka, Alaska.
The BBC reports the derelict vessel is thought to be at the front of a stream of tsunami debris that has been drifting east since the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011.
The Ryou-Un Maru was first spotted off the coast of British Columbia on 23 March. It is moving at about 1km/hr.
Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand
Give us a call
Chat to us on Google+chat Hangouts
