Ship Carrying Tons of Fuel Adrift Off Canada

The coast guards of the US and Canada are hoping to avert disaster in the form a container ship laden with fuel that is adrift off the northern coast of British Columbia, reports the CBC. Rescue vessels from both countries are en route to try to make sure the Russian ship Simushir does not run aground, but it wasn't clear they would get there in time. Officials say the ship lost power overnight and is now drifting parallel to the coast, about 10 miles from the archipelago of Haida Gwaii, though high winds could change that quickly.

The 442-foot-long vessel was en route from Washington state to Russia with about 440 tons of oil and 55 tons of diesel. A helicopter from the island has been dispatched to retrieve the captain, who has reportedly been injured, reports the Vancouver Sun. No further details were provided about what happened to him. Ten others are on board. (More ship stories.)