tsunamidock_ap.jpg
A scientist studying tsunami debris from Japan believes the newly arrived dock may be one of four pieces from the fishing port of Misawa, Terry Egan, tsunami marine debris lead for Washington state, said this week. One of those pieces, pictured above, turned up at Newport, Ore., in June. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Tsunami dock removed from Washington coast

March 28, 2013 @ 1:30 pm

FORKS, Wash. (AP) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the last of a 65-foot long tsunami debris dock was removed Thursday from a remote beach on Washington's Olympic Peninsula near Forks.

The Undersea Co. of Port Townsend began work March 17, cutting up and airlifting out pieces. Company President John Nesset said it was like opening a 185-ton concrete package filled with foam packing peanuts.

Japan paid most of the $628,000 removal cost. A serial number showed the dock came from Aomori Prefecture during the March 2011 tsunami. A similar dock was removed last summer from a beach at Newport, Ore.

The Washington dock landed within a wilderness portion of Olympic National Park and also within the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (11)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    When WashedupDOT gets done with their beer(s) . . . .
    December 19, 2012 8:57 am
    have them check for cracks. CONFUCIUS SAY: GIRL FLY UPSIDE DOWN HAVE CRACK UP …
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    bomb it!
    January 2, 2013 11:44 am
    Paint it up like a Jap carrier..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William P wrote...
    Move it
    January 2, 2013 7:18 pm
    to the soon to be ex-governors home. It has the possibility of being a great yard ornament.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    How long does it take them to spend $500K to think about something
    January 2, 2013 7:38 pm
    That should give us an accurate timeline as to when we can expect that thing to be moved.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Set the thing on fire
    January 3, 2013 5:46 am
    Get it over with.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    A Washington state spokesman says a crew has scrubbed a dock that washed ashore on a wilderness beach near Forks, Wash . . . .
    January 4, 2013 7:24 pm
    now what color to paint it? Another piece of the puzzle for the 520 - black hole project. Set the thing on fire? Volunteers scraped off 2 tons of seaweed and creatures clinging to it and 'ran blowtorches' over the surface to sterilize it. Sterilize it? Well then all you can eat flounder table it is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Set the thing on fire
    March 2, 2013 8:32 am
    Most of the dock is made of a foam-type material "encased in steel-reinforced concrete". Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner - the clown in the back row come up front for your prize.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Hmmmmm?............
    March 15, 2013 11:42 am
    Define the words "most of the cost"......
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • vern ivan wrote...
    Hello? Anybody home?:
    March 19, 2013 3:50 pm
    The 520 pontoon project engineers need to be whacked on the back of the head. Second time I'm sayin' that the Japanese engineers are a bit further ahead in the design of floating concrete structures. Who would have thought that foam encased in structural concrete would survive, certainly no one at WSDOT. So you all get an over inflated new bridge. The ancient old bridge will be left in neglect, still to drain monies from the majority to fill the selfish demands of the few. No wonder I isolate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Hello? Anybody home?:
    March 19, 2013 7:45 pm
    The 520 pontoon project engineers? NO!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    This was ????????
    March 20, 2013 6:56 am
    Over budget in its planning stages. Attention Obama, new recruits for your health care program, or maybe bring solyndra back. All of this together a total waste. W/O toilet paper.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }