Container ship towed away from Canadian coast

Source: AP-EXCITE

By RUDY KELLY and ROB GILLIES

PRINCE RUPERT, British Columbia (AP) — A Canadian Coast Guard vessel continued to slowly tow a disabled Russian container ship carrying hundreds of tons of fuel away from British Columbia's pristine northern coast on Saturday. The move significantly lessened the threat of the ship running aground, hitting the rocks and causing a spill.

The Canadian Forces' joint rescue coordination center said the Russian carrier Simushir lost lower off Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, as it made its way from Everett in Washington state to Russia.

Acting Sub. Lt. Ron MacDougall said the Coast Guard ship Gordon Reid secured a towline and the two vessels were moving away from the coastline at two knots (3.7 kilometers per hour) in 3 to 4-meter (10 to 12-feet). Officials said the outcome was subject to weather, but the danger has been lessened.

MacDougall said the ship, originally nine miles (14.5 kilometers) offshore, is now 23 miles offshore (37 kilometers). He said the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir Wilfrid Laurier and U.S. Coast Guard cutter Spar are there to provide assistance but they haven't yet been needed. The ocean going tug Barbara Foss was also due to arrive later Saturday morning.

FULL story at link.



In this aerial photo provided by the Department of National Defense Maritime Forces Pacific, a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter flies near a Russian container ship, carrying hundreds of tons of fuel drifting without power in rough seas off British Columbia's northern coast on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. The Canadian Forces' joint rescue coordination center in Victoria said the Russian carrier Simushir lost power late Thursday night off Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, as it was making its way from Washington state to Russia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Department of National Defense Maritime Forces Pacific)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141018/cn--ship_adrift-6e41c6dace.html

---

original time posted on AP: Oct 18, 11:21 AM (ET) It's a pain in the ass, but what else are we going to do? Some people want to wine (edit: piss and moan) about anything I do these days.