Japanese vessel spotted drifting in Canada

A Japanese fishing vessel swept away by the March 2011 tsunami has been spotted drifting off the west coast of Canada.



The 50 foot vessel was seen floating 170 miles from the Haida Gwaii islands yesterday.



It is believed to be the first large item from the millions of tonnes of tsunami debris to cross the Pacific.



No one is believed to be on board the ship which is registered in Hokkaido, Japan.



Canada's transport ministry says it is monitoring the vessel for marine pollution and to see if it becomes an obstruction.



Researchers at the University of Hawaii says the tsunami, which caused massive destruction in Japan last March, has generated more than 25 million tonnes of debris.



The researchers say between 4 and 8 million tonnes were washed into the ocean, but adds that the main mass of the debris is not expected to make landfall in North America until March 2014.

editorial@gleanerjm.com