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20-metre dock washes up in US, drifted from Japan tsunami Read more: http://www.news.com.au/world/metre-dock-washes-up-in-us-may-be-from-japan-tsunami/story-e6frfkz0-1226387042682#ixzz1x4MHdrP0
Topic Started: 7 Jun 2012, 03:24 AM (42 Views)
skibboy
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20-metre dock washes up in US, drifted from Japan tsunami

by: From correspondents in Newport
From: NewsCore
June 07, 2012 8:52AM

Posted Image
Scientists from OSU and BLM agents inspect a massive dock with Japanese lettering that washed ashore on Agate Beach, Oregon, US. Picture: AP

Posted Image
Fisheries scientists Dr. John Chapman (with bucket), and Dr. Jessica Miller climb aboard the beached dock at Agate Beach, Oregon, US.
There is speculation - but no confirmation - the dock is debris from Japan's 2011 tsunami. Picture: AP

A large dock that floated ashore on a beach in Oregon is definitely debris from last year's tsunami in Japan, a state official said today.

Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation spokesman Chris Haven said the Japanese consulate in Portland, Ore., traced the nearly 20-metre-long concrete and steel floating dock to a manufacturer in Japan.

He also confirmed the dock was in use in an area of Japan hit by the giant waves.

The dock carried a metal placard naming the manufacturer and dated June 2008.

A radiation check came up negative, but an examination by a Hatfield Marine Science Center scientist revealed a starfish native to Japan, Havel said.

The parks department was overseeing efforts to identify and remove the dock.

The dock was first spotted floating offshore Monday, and washed ashore early Tuesday on Agate Beach, a mile north of Newport on the central Oregon Coast.

It's made of concrete with a metal pontoon and measures around 20 metres long, five metres wide and two metres high.

State police were posted to keep people from climbing on the dock, said Mitch Vance, shellfish program manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Vance took samples of the mussels, barnacles and other shellfish clinging to the dock Wednesday morning.

There also was green algae and brown kelp, he said.

There was no answer at the Tokyo-listed phone number for Zeniya Ocean Service Engineering Ltd., the company named on the placard, after business hours in Japan.

Fast-moving debris from the tsunami has begun arriving on North America's shores.

It includes a soccer ball that washed up in Alaska, and a shipping container holding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Japanese license plates that turned up in British Columbia.

The bulk of the debris is not expected until winter.

Havel said the department would be responsible for removing the barge, which remained on the beach Wednesday morning.

The plaque has been put in storage.

It was not yet determined whether the barge would be towed off the beach and floated somewhere for disposal, or cut up on the beach for removal.

In the meantime, small crowds of people have been showing up on the beach to see the dock.

"I think that's going to change to large crowds," Havel said.

source: news.com.au
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