State officials are examining a large, metal cylinder that washed ashore Monday at Cape Disappointment State Park to determine if it came from Japan as a result of being swept out to sea by the March 2011 tsunami.

The cylinder is longer than a small pickup truck, measuring 19 feet, 4 inches long. It is 3 feet in diameter, with ¾-inch base plates that measure 3 feet by 3 feet. While no markings have been detected yet, some algae and other sea life were attached to the item.

As a precaution, a state Department of Fish and Wildlife official will check for potential invasive species. A state Department of Health official examined the cylinder Tuesday and, as expected, found no radioactive contamination above normal background levels.