Japanese Tsunami Boat Towed to Oregon Port

A 30-foot section from what is believed to be a Japanese boat swept out to sea in the huge 2011 tsunami has been towed to Newport Harbor in Oregon late Thursday night.

It's part of a much larger fiberglass boat that was broken and swept into the ocean during the huge wave swell that struck the coast of Japan, and for the last four years, has been meandering across the ocean.

While not nearly as large as the intact 130-foot Japanese fishing 'ghost' ship that drifted off the coast of Washington a few years ago (and was later sunk by the Coast Guard), this floating piece of debris will still be examined for any potentially hostile organic life forms.

Previously, a huge floating Japanese dock that washed ashore in Oregon a few years ago was covered with plants and spiecies considered threatening to the eco-systems on this side of the Pacific, and it was throroughly scrubbed and cleaned prior to being cut apart and disposed of.

Scientists examined the 30-foot fiberglass section at sea and didn't initially see any problems.  Some yellowtail jack fish found swimming inside the hull will be taken to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and given their own tank. Those fish are only found in the Western Pacific near Japan.