Up to 6 shipping containers have been identified floating in the sea south-east of the Isle of Wight by an HM Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft today (Friday).
It follows overnight reports of 2 vessels losing cargo units overboard amid Storm Goretti, as first reported by Island Echo.
The first incident was reported at around 23:10 on last night (Thursday), when a vessel confirmed that 17 containers had gone overboard to the south-east of the Isle of Wight.
A second vessel reported a separate loss at approximately 23:55, with 7 containers believed to have sunk south-west of the Isle of Wight.
The containers are believed to have fallen from Liberian-flagged reefer vessel Lombok Strait and Cypriot-flagged cargo vessel Condor Valapariso, though no official confirmation as to which vessel dropped what has yet been given.
HM Coastguard has confirmed that recovery of the containers is the responsibility of the respective vessel operators, who are working with Coastguard teams and salvage experts. Cargo lists are still being analysed to determine the contents of the containers lost.
A fixed-wing surveillance aircraft was deployed this morning to monitor the area. Navigational warnings continue to be broadcast to vessels operating in nearby waters.
Sightings of floating containers should be reported to Solent Coastguard via 0344 382 0560 or VHF radio.
Members of the public who find any non-perishable wreck material washed ashore, including cargo, must report it to the Receiver of Wreck within 28 days.
Further details can be found at www.gov.uk/report-wreck-material.
UPDATE SATURDAY – HM Coastguard has now confirmed that 7 containers have been located following further aerial searches by the fixed-wing plane today.
Cargo lists confirm the contents of the containers that went overboard from both vessels are non-hazardous.
Navigational warnings continue to be broadcast to shipping. Any sightings of containers should be reported to Solent Coastguard on 0344 382 0560 or via VHF radio.
More bananas?
These so called “containers” are little more than lightweight boxes, no wonder that they break loose.
A “ container” conjures up the traditional image of a metal built container which is held down with metal clamps and wouldn’t be prone to falling off.
So cheap lightweight build so that more stuff can be put onto a ship. I am now less impressed with these big container ships, they cannot carry as much as I imagined.
It is interesting to note that the recovery of the storage containers is, of course, the responsibility of vessel’s operator. I hope that the cost of the Coast Guard operation, which is essential since these containers could be a hazard to shipping, is recoverable from the vessel’s operator as well.