Update: Plan to sink vessel back on

Ryou-Un Maru
Vessel Ryou-Un Maru as it enters U.S. waters on March 31. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Kodiak.

The U.S. Coast Guard is moving forward with its plan to sink a derelict Japanese fishing vessel about 170 miles southwest of Sitka.

The Ryou-Un Maru has been adrift since last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It floated into U.S. waters on Saturday and has been moving in a northerly direction since first being noticed by the Canadian Coast Guard off the coast of Canada more than a week ago.

The operation to sink the boat was delayed when a fishing vessel began operating in the area. According to the Coast Guard, the vessel’s captain initially expressed interest in salvaging the ghost ship, but decided against it after getting a close-up look.

The Petersburg-based Coast Guard cutter Anacapa will now proceed with plans to sink the Ryou-Un Maru, using its 25-MM, bow-mounted machine gun.

Coast Guard officials say the boat poses a risk to other vessels should it continue to drift at sea.

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications