More spilled shipping containers found washed up

Multiple containers have washed ashore after a series of spilled shipments, according to HM Coastguard.

The agency said it was called to three shipping containers washed up at Seaford in East Sussex shortly before 08:00 GMT on Tuesday.

They came ashore a month after 16 containers fell from the cargo vessel Baltic Klipper near the Isle of Wight and days after several containers fell from two more ships off the island during Storm Goretti.

Volunteers and councils launched a major clean-up operation when containers washed up in December, spilling bananas and plastic packaging along the coast.

Seaford Town Council reported that a container holding "food and packaging" washed up on the East Sussex town's beach on Tuesday.

Lewes District Council said "all relevant agencies" were aware of the container and "working to remove it".

Officers and partner organisations were "working to clear the beaches of litter and other debris", a spokesperson said.

The coastguard said a container identified floating in waters south of Littlehampton, West Sussex, was "being attended by a contracted salvage vessel".

Another container washed ashore at Elmer, near Bognor Regis, on Monday.

West Sussex County Council and Arun and Chichester district councils said in a joint statement that it was "not yet confirmed at this stage" if the container in Elmer was from the Baltic Klipper.

They said contractors were working with coastguard crews to "arrange for its safe removal from the water".

HM Coastguard said its Littlehampton rescue team was sent to locate the container and take images.

Members of the public were advised not to approach containers or debris for safety reasons.

Marine authorities said any container sightings should be reported to the coastguard and that cargo arriving on shore should be reported to the receiver of wreck within 28 days.

"The recovery of all containers remains the responsibility of the vessels' operators, which HM Coastguard is liaising with along with salvors," a spokesperson said.

Eastbourne Borough Council said it was aware of debris washing up on the town's beaches and its officers were "removing it as quickly as possible".

A spokesperson said: "We would ask people to stay away from the area at this time."

Helena Dollimore MP said it was "alarming to see plastic insulation foam wash up" in Camber Sands and Hastings.

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