Posted on 04/05/2012 11:14:54 AM PDT by DogByte6RER
US to sink ghost ship dislodged by Japan tsunami
The U.S. Coast Guard plans to use explosives to sink a derelict Japanese ship dislodged by last year's massive tsunami.
The shrimping vessel, which has no lights or communications systems, was floating about 195 miles south of Sitka in the Gulf of Alaska on Thursday morning, traveling about 1 mile per hour.
The ship holds more than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel and authorities are concerned it could interfere with the course of other vessels as it drifts through shipping lanes. A Coast Guard cutter was headed out to the ship on Thursday with plans to use high explosive rounds to sink the vessel.
If left to drift, the ship would ground somewhere, said Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Charley Hengen.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency studied the problem and decided it is safer to sink the ship and let the fuel evaporate in the open water.
The Coast Guard is warning other ships to avoid the area.
The vessel, named Ryou-Un Maru, is believed to be 150 to 200 feet long. It has been adrift from Hokkaido, Japan, since it was launched by the tsunami caused by the magnitude-9.0 earthquake that struck Japan last year. About 5 million tons of debris were swept into the ocean by the tsunami.
(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...
Air Station Kodiak - In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, the derelict Japanese fishing vessel RYOU-UN MARU drifts more than 125 miles from Forrester Island in southeast Alaska where it entered U.S. waters March 31, 2012. The vessel has been adrift since it was launched by a tsunami caused by the magnitude-9.0 earthquake that struck Japan last year. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard)
Why not just tow it back to port and salvage it?
Scrap iron is going for around $250/ton, not to mention the other tasty little salvage like props, engines, electronics, etc.
By the law of the sea since its been declared abandoned can’t anyone just claim it, tow it home and salvage it?
I agree, I am surprised some salvage company hasn’t tried to claim it.
Heck 2000 gallons of Diesel? What’s Diesel selling for in Nome? ;-)
Why not just tow it back to port and salvage it?
can’t do that ,makes too much sense , so , IT MUST DIE !!!!
Be funny to see Sig and the guys run out and get her running, she still has a couple thousand gallons of diesel on board too.
That’s gay, why not let the navy attack it? Shoot deck guns at it, strafe it, have some fun, train a little. Planted explosives,,, sheesh. Typical bureaucratic textbook ,, headquarters approved answer.
Calling Captain Phil Harris! Now here would be a CATCH for you!
Sig's on his way....
Why not have the TSA screen the ship first?
I think obama and his entire cabinet should take an EXTENDED tour of this ship.
.
Send the Japanese Co. that owns the ship a hefty bill...
.
brass, copper, highstrength pipe, all kinds of valuable materials.
Someone should tell the U.S. Coast Guard that the War is over , this could bite them
I bet the owners told the US Coast Guard that they already claimed the insurance value and were distressed it was found.
Its true that an ocean going tug could move it to port for salvage but that is only if a salvage company had discovered it, made a salvage claim and then fronted the cash for such a tow which apparently has not happened.
Full of radiation, dude!
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