Rusty, abandoned and eerie: a ‘ghost ship’ floats the Pacific Ocean off the Coast of Canada.
This one confirmed to have been swept to sea during the Japanese tsunami & mega-quake of 2011.
Experts have been asking this question for months: when will the Japan Tsunami debris reach Canada, California, Oregon & Washington?
Surprisingly, the answer is right now.
The mayor of Tofino, B.C. told the Canadian paper The Province much more:
‘Perry Schmunk told The Province the discovery of the unmanned 150-foot fishing vessel confirms his suspicion that debris already hitting Vancouver Island shores is a result of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan just 12 months ago.
“All of the computer models say it is one or two years away, but I think the ship proves that it’s coming,†said Schmunk after a routine surveillance patrol discovered the unmanned ship about 150 nautical miles off the southern coast of Haida Gwaii.’
The peak year for tsunami debris to reach the west coast is expected to be 2013–next year. But this discovery and other smaller discoveries shows the wave of debris has already started to arrive.
So that’s the ‘when does tsunami debris arrive’ question.
Where will tsunami debris land? The main target zones appear to be Northern California, Oregon, Washington & British Columbia.
Amazing to think some debris, including this surprise discovery of a Japanese fishing vessel, has already traveled the 4,700 miles between Japan & the west coast.
Wow! I wonder if they will allow salvage operations once they hit the U.S. or Canadian waters?
I hope that there is a plan in place to deal with, and to handle, all the wreckage and junk that will wash ashore. Something like that should be thought of BEFORE it hits, because it will swamp the capabilities of the individual states and province. This is something that needs to be responded to at a national level, not just state level.
Very concerned about this
Rich–you’re right. There needs to be a plan. I’ve heard it’s being talked about–but so far–it’s mainly talk. Let’s hope we’re ready for whatever happens.