PRINCE RUPERT, British Columbia (AP) — The Russian container ship that had been drifting powerlessly off the British Columbia coast, raising fears of a fuel spill, is now safe at a Canadian port.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria says the vessel was towed into the port city of Prince Rupert at 3 a.m. Monday. Rescue coordinator Colin Henthorne says the Simushir is secured to a wharf and he expects it can be repaired.
The 440-foot ship operated by the Russian shipping firm Sasco carried 298 containers of mining equipment and hundreds of tons of fuel. It was headed from Everett, Washington, to Russia when it lost power Thursday off Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands.
The Canadian and U.S. coast guards responded, then a tugboat took the ship in tow. Officials worried about a fuel spill if the Simushir ran aground.
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