After earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an advisory reminding mariners that, subsequent to the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, a debris field formed in the North Pacific Ocean. This debris field may have dispersed over a broad area between Japan and the US West Coast. Mariners transiting these waters should remain vigilant and should report significant debris sightings. The content of this advisory is shown below:
1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO VESSELS TRANSITING THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN FROM JAPAN TO THE U.S. WEST COAST.
2. THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV.
3. THE 9.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE THAT OCCURRED MARCH 11, 2011 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN RESULTED IN A DEBRIS FIELD IN THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.
4. POSSIBLE MARINE DEBRIS TYPES INCLUDE DERELICT VESSELS, FISHING NETS AND FLOATS, LUMBER, CARGO CONTAINERS, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS. BECAUSE DIFFERENT DEBRIS TYPES MOVE WITH CURRENTS OR WINDS DIFFERENTLY, THE DEBRIS MAY BE DISPERSED OVER A VERY BROAD AREA BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE U.S. WEST COAST. SOME GENERAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WEBSITE HTTP://MARINEDEBRIS.NOAA.GOV/INFO/JAPANFAQS.HTML
5. U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS TRANSITING THE SUBJECT AREA SHOULD ADVISE SUCH VESSELS TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND TO MONITOR ALL SOURCES OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION AFFECTING SAFE AND SECURE NAVIGATION IN THIS AREA.
6. SIGNIFICANT DEBRIS SIGHTINGS CAN BE REPORTED TO [email protected]. PLEASE INDICATE IF INFORMATION CAN BE DISPLAYED ON PUBLIC WEBSITE.
7. CONTACT INFORMATION NOAA: CAREY MORISHIGE, 808-694-3936 OR [email protected]
8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT CAPTAIN ROBERT FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-308, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, TELEPHONE 202-366-0223, FACSIMILE 202-366-3954, TLX II 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR EMAIL: [email protected]
You can view the advisory, by clicking here.
Source: MARAD
