Japanese tsunami ship drifting to Canada

Source: IANS

London, March 25 (IANS) A Japanese fishing vessel, swept away by the 2011 tsunami, has been found adrift off the west coast of Canada, the BBC has reported.

An aircraft patrolling the seas off British Columbia saw the 15m (50ft) vessel floating 170 miles from the Haida Gwaii islands Friday. It is believed to be the first large item from the millions of tonnes of tsunami debris to cross the Pacific.

Nobody is believed to be on board the ship, the report said.

The Canadian transport ministry is monitoring the vessel, registered in Hokkaido, Japan, for marine pollution or in case it turns an obstruction.

Japanese officials said the boat was lost from Hokkaido in the north of the country and its owner was listed as missing, the Sun reported.

Millions of tonnes of debris were swept into the ocean following the earthquake and tsunami last year.

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