Canada monitoring Japanese ghost vessel

MONTREAL:Canada is monitoring an unmanned Japanese ship which was swept into the ocean during last year's tsunami, and will not allow it to wash ashore on the Canadian West Coast, the government announced.

"The government ofCanadawill ensure the vessel does not wash ashore on the Canadian coast," TransportCanadasaid in a statement.

However, it added it will not prevent private parties from trying to take control of the ship, which is currently drifting 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) north ofVancouver.

A 9.0-magnitude earthquake that shook northeasternJapanin March of 2011 triggered a monster tsunami, which killed more than 19,000 people, crippled theFukushimanuclear plant, and washed tons of debris, including boats, into the Pacific.

Some of this debris is still drifting across the ocean, causing concern among surrounding countries.