The authorities have placed a replica of an orca in the water in order to scare away hundreds of sea lions that have gathered on the docks of Oregon.

The orca, which is made of fiberglass and is motorised, was brought to seaside town of Astoria on Thursday to scare away sea lions. Sea lions have gathered in grate numbers on the docks and are causing difficulties to the locals to reach their boats.

The replica was brought to the waters and but it went upside down and had to be saved from dawning. Hundreds of people gathered to cheer the effort to place the replica with anhuman operator inside on Thursday but the first was not a success for the crew working on theplan.

Jim Knight, executive director of the Port of Astoria, said sea lions that were crowded onto the docks became "deathly silent." A cargo ship was passing the area and the fake orca sarted to move with the waves and then it capsized with belly up.

"Our crew from the port had to go rescue the operator so he didn't drown," Knight said.