The Story of the Tsunami Dock - Newport, Oregon
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 44° 37.378 W 124° 02.700
10T E 417099 N 4941599
This history sign is located at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.
Waymark Code: WMHKF2
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 07/19/2013
Views: 5
This sign is located in a group of signs and displays near the entrance to the Hatfield Marine Science Center
Marker Name: The Story of the Tsunami Dock
Marker Text: Did the dock come from Japan?
Yes! This is a piece of a dock that was used in commercial fisheries in the Japanese port of Misawa. The dock was ripped from its mooring during the March 2011 tsunami. The dock’s built-in flotation caused the debris to stay afloat, rather than sink, and to float across the Pacific Ocean to Newport.
How did it get here?
On March 11, 2011 a magnitude 9.03 earthquake occurred on the ocean floor about 20 miles east of the coast of Japan. The earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami with waves as high as 133 ft that travelled six miles inland. The dock was just one of the many pieces of debris swept away. The dock was discovered on Agate Beach, about a mile north of Newport, on June 5, 2012.
What happened once it came ashore?
The dock’s unexpected arrival was of great interest to people in Newport and around the world. The dock generated many feelings; sympathy for the lives lost in Japan, curiosity about its sudden appearance, and surprise at the number of organisms still living on the dock. Scientists at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center took quick action to sample and contain the potential threat of invasive species on the dock. The State of Oregon had the dock removed from the beach to minimize the public safety hazard.
Is more debris coming?
Yes. Debris from the US and other countries has washed up every day all along the West Coast for decades. There was a finite amount of debris generated by the 2011 tsunami including this dock, and it will eventually stop coming ashore. However, as long as we continue to allow trash to enter the ocean, marine debris will be a constant problem.
What are invasive species?
Invasive species are non-native plants and animals, that can cause economic and environmental harm if they become established in an ecosystem. All introduced species are the result of human activities.
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