Nav Hazard off BC from Tsunami

[speakeasy]

A Japanese fishing boat has drifted to within 150 miles of BC.

A Japanese fishing boat lost in the Pacific Ocean after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami was sighted March 20, 2012 drifting 150 nautical miles off the southern coast of Haida Gwaii near British Columbia, Canada by the crew of an aircraft on a r

[captain58sailin]

Why hasn't someone hooked on to this prize yet? Prime salvage!

[Cheechako]

heck, it might even run!

[captain58sailin]

I think I would board her first and see if I could understand enough to get her up and running, under her own power. I understand that there is supposed to be 20 millon tons of debris headed for the US west coast, should make for some great salvage work! Last I heard scrape steel was going for $300 a ton.

[delmarrey]

From the looks of it, it looks like it had been run into some rocks somewhere or on its side for a bit.. No telling what the bottom looks like or its rudder & prop.

The worst part of this will be night sailing off the coasts.
The barge's heading for Alaska are going to have to keep a good watch. And this is going to last for years as it circles around the N. Pac. in the currents.

[shorebird]

The owner of the vessel has apparently been notified of its location. Not sure of any legal obligations to recover the vessel, surrender it, remove any fuel on board, or any liability since the vessel is in its present position as a result of an "Act of God." Think about a drifting, unlighted ship this size in the mid Pacific, and a single-hander sleeping while under sail...
More debris to come... LOTS more...

[Cheechako]

Yeah... it's going to be a minefield out there. I remember rounding Van Isle. The first anchorage after rounding the north cape is I believe... Sea Otter Cove..? It's a blind entrance. I was heading straight toward a rock wall, at 8 knots, with 35 knots of wind behind me and surfing on 10 ft swells. suddenly you see the entrance to your port side you make a 90 degree turn and go into the tranquil harbor. Now think of doing that with the possibility of tsunami debri in the route going in..... argghhh! "oh gee honey, look it's a pretty orange shipping container!"

[S/V Alchemy]

That boat's a testament to something, just no idea what. It seems to be floating pretty high, so I assume it was not in ballast or full o' fish when the wave hit. Perhaps that's why it's still afloat.

If it was in medium depth, the anchor chain could have been broken free and it simply washed out to sea as the tsunami retreated. I think I can make out a big chain from the bow that could run who knows how far down.

I can't see how this could be anything but salvage. First tug there gets the prize, especially as it looks like a 200 foot nav hazard in its current state.

[zeehag]

wow-- could be a decent liveaboard for someone.....is still afloat. if it is a fishing boat, might just stink a lil bit, but i guess it would buff out easily enough....

[captain58sailin]

I spoke with a maritime lawyer regarding salvage a few years back, and with some exceptions, it is still "Finders keepers, losers weepers." In this case if you were to salvage the vessel, you can either have the owner pay you or the insurance company, and if they refuse then you can sell the vessel at a marshal's auction to recoup your outlay.

[Cheechako]

That boat's a testament to something, just no idea what.
It's a testament to most boats being tougher than the people sailing them!

"...but i guess it would buff out easily enough.... " HA Ha!!!

"for sale: tough cruiser, well found, 'think Norhaven' needs a little cleanup..." :>) Yeah... that's about what a broker would say...

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

That boat's a testament to something, just no idea what.
It's a testament to most boats being tougher than the people sailing them!

"...but i guess it would buff out easily enough.... " HA Ha!!!

"for sale: tough cruiser, well found, 'think Norhaven' needs a little cleanup..." :>) Yeah... that's about what a broker would say...

only lost once.....driven by lil ol lady schoolteacher on sundays ....

[terminalcitygrl]

And we keep getting told the debris won't be here until 2013 even though Japanese labelled bottles and such have been washing up in Tofino for six months. It's gonna be hard to discount this big ole rusting ship.

[BlueChild]

The owner was found, Canada claimed the salvage but was sunk by US coast guard.
Not sure about the salvage rules when the owner has been located... I think many people were going for it, but were stopped.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by BlueChild

The owner was found, Canada claimed the salvage but was sunk by US coast guard.
Not sure about the salvage rules when the owner has been located... I think many people were going for it, but were stopped.

I saw a news clip about one boat trying but their boat was too small to tow it and had to unhook and go home.