The origin of the nearly 70-foot-long dock was confirmed by the Japanese consulate in Portland, Oregon, by means of a commemorative plaque naming the manufacturer, and the discovery of a starfish native to Japan among the marine life still clinging to the structure more than a year after it went adrift, said Chris Havel, Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation spokesman.

Cast away: The large dock washed up on shore on Tuesday morning and has become a minor tourist attraction. Pic/AFP