UPDATE — Authorities find dock — possibly from Japanese tsunami — washed up on beach in Olympic National Park

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Federal, state and tribal officials have been looking for a large object — possibly part of a dock dislodged in the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami — that was reported drifting off the coast near the Jefferson-Grays Harbor county line.

This news release was issued Tuesday night by the Coast Guard, NOAA, Olympic National Park and the state Department of Ecology:

LAPUSH — An extensive helicopter search by the Coast Guard paid off Tuesday when a crew located a large ocean-drifting dock washed ashore in an extremely rugged and remote section of coast in the Olympic National Park.

It was found between LaPush and the mouth of the Hoh River.

Federal and state and tribal agencies are mounting a coordinated mission to reach the site on the ground, to evaluate the massive dock for any potential invasive aquatic species that may have “hitchhiked” while it was drifting in the ocean, to evaluate the dock’s origins, and to develop a response.

It has not been confirmed whether the dock is a piece of debris from the devastating March 2011 tsunami in Japan.

The Coast Guard mounted a series of flights to locate the dock after it was spotted adrift in the ocean last Friday by fishermen aboard a fishing vessel, Lady Nancy.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worked to determine the dock’s trajectory based on the reported location at the time of the sighting.

Gov. Chris Gregoire said, “I want to thank the Coast Guard and our federal partners for making it a priority to find the dock and for stepping up to task quickly.

“The Coast Guard was out in challenging conditions looking for a needle in a haystack, and they found it.

“I also commend our state marine debris response group and our tribal and local partners for working in concert to respond as we deal with these unprecedented situations.”

Federal and state agencies are concerned about the safety of people encountering a large, heavy floatable object in the ocean surf.

Pending further information about the precise location and the risks associated with the dock, the National Park Service has closed the wilderness beach between Hoh Head and Toleak Point to all public entry.

Olympic National Park protects over 70 miles of wild Pacific coast.

Much of this coastline, including the dock’s location, was designated by Congress as wilderness in 1988.

Marine debris is an ongoing problem with everyday impacts, especially around the Pacific, and natural disasters can make the problem worse.

Anyone sighting other significant debris that may be from the tsunami is asked to report it to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov.

As of December 13, NOAA has received approximately 1,432 official debris reports, of which 17 have been confirmed as definite tsunami debris.

For the latest information on tsunami debris please visit http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/tsunamidebris and http://marinedebris.wa.gov.

This is the Peninsula Daily News’ earlier story:

TAHOLAH — It was there Friday, but it apparently isn’t now.

Federal, state and tribal officials Monday were attempting to track a large object — possibly part of a dock dislodged in the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami — that was reported drifting off the coast near the Jefferson-Grays Harbor county line.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Keeley Belva said Monday the object has not been relocated or confirmed since it was initially reported Friday.

Fishermen aboard the crab boat Lady Nancy reported seeing a large object floating off the coast last Friday and even took a photo of it.

Chief Petty Officer Robert Lanier said the Coast Guard has been broadcasting warnings to mariners about the big flotsam since then.

Helicopter crews from Astoria, Ore., conducted five unsuccessful searches covering about 317 square miles aboard a HH-60 Jayhawk.

NOAA has received about 1,400 debris reports in the past year, adding that 17 of those reports have been confirmed as definite debris from the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011.

The latest spotting of the debris reactivated a response plan that involves federal, state and tribal agencies.

Lanier said the state Emergency Management Division, following a marine debris plan crafted this year, identified resources and brought in partners to prepare for the response.

The state contacted the Quinault tribe, based in Taholah, as well as NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Last summer, a 165-ton concrete Japanese dock became an international sensation after coming to rest on Agate Beach north of Newport, Ore.

A commemorative plaque showed that it was one of four owned by Aomori prefecture (state) that broke loose from the port of Misawa on the northern tip of the main island during the 2011 tsunami.

Anybody spotting debris in the ocean or ashore is asked to notify authorities by phoning toll-free 855-922-6278.

More information is available at http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/tsunamidebris and http://marinedebris.wa.gov.