This story is free to read.

Container ship adrift off British Columbia coast

In this aerial photo provided by the Department of National Defense Maritime Forces Pacific, a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter flies near a Russian container ship, carrying hundreds of tons of fuel drifting without power in rough seas off British Columbia's northern coast on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. The Canadian Forces' joint rescue coordination center in Victoria said the Russian carrier Simushir lost power late Thursday night off Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, as it was making its way from Washington state to Russia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Department of National Defense Maritime Forces Pacific) In this aerial photo provided by the Department of National Defense Maritime Forces Pacific, a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter flies near a Russian container ship, carrying hundreds of tons of fuel drifting without power in rough seas off British Columbia's northern coast on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. The Canadian Forces' joint rescue coordination center in Victoria said the Russian carrier Simushir lost power late Thursday night off Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, as it was making its way from Washington state to Russia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Department of National Defense Maritime Forces Pacific)

By Associated Press October 18, 2014 1 min read

OLD MASSETT, British Columbia (AP) – Local officials say the Canadian coast guard has secured a towline to a Russian container ship carrying hundreds of tons of fuel that was drifting without power in rough seas off British Columbia’s pristine northern coast.

The development Friday would seem to have lessened the threat of the container ship running aground and hitting the rocks and causing a spill.

The Canadian Forces’ joint rescue coordination center said the Russian carrier Simushir lost power off Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, as it made its way from Everett in Washington state to Russia.

The Council of the Haida Nation said late Friday the Coast Guard Ship Gordon Reid managed to secure a towline and the two vessels are moving away from the Canadian coastline.