Japanese "ghost ship" sinks

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CBS News:

The U.S. Coast Guard says a Japanese vessel set adrift by last year's tsunami has sunk in the Gulf of Alaska, ending its long, lonely voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

 

Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow in Juneau says the ship sank about four hours after a Coast Guard cutter unleashed cannon fire at the abandoned 164-foot Ryou-Un Maru on Thursday. It burst into flames and took on water, and after a few hours, the cutter fired larger ammunition to finish the job.

 

The Japanese ship, which was dislodged by last year's tsunami and has no lights or communications system, has a tank that could carry more than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Officials don't know how much fuel, if any, is aboard.

Earlier, a Canadian fishing vessel claimed salvage rights to the ship but was unable to tow it.

 

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