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Following an incident off the Isle of Wight, efforts to clear containers that fell from a cargo ship and washed ashore are set to begin. On Saturday evening, around 18:00 GMT, sixteen containers, predominantly filled with bananas, were lost overboard from the Baltic Klipper near the Nab tower lighthouse off Bembridge. By Sunday, five of these containers had drifted ashore around Selsey, West Sussex, while others were observed floating offshore. The coastguard, assisted by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and Sussex Police, quickly established safety cordons around the containers found on land, urging the public to avoid the area.
In response to the spill, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency issued warnings to vessels navigating the Solent. Fortunately, there were no injuries to the crew of the Baltic Klipper, and authorities confirmed that the cargo was classified as “non-hazardous.” The incident did cause disruptions to maritime traffic, notably delaying the departure of the P&O Cruises vessel Iona from Southampton due to the containers obstructing shipping lanes.
West Sussex County Council has arranged for specialist teams to arrive and commence the removal of any cargo that has landed onshore. Of the containers involved, eight were loaded with bananas, two contained avocados, one carried plantains, and the remaining five were empty. The Coastguard emphasized that if members of the public find any items from the containers, these should be reported to the Receiver of Wreck at HM Coastguard. Failure to declare recovered items within 28 days may result in legal consequences, although perishable items are excluded from this rule. The public is also encouraged to follow instructions provided by local authorities.
Steve Wenham, a Portsmouth resident familiar with the Solent ferry operations, described the Baltic Klipper as a refrigerated ship specializing in soft fruits, making regular monthly trips from the Caribbean or West Africa. He stated, “If any containers have sunk they’re not going to be a problem, but it’s the ones that are still afloat, they’re the hazard.” This highlights the ongoing risk posed by the floating containers to maritime safety in the area
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