Banana containers still missing as clean-up continues
BBCThree shipping containers remain missing more than two weeks after they fell overboard and started washing up on the West Sussex coast.
The containers fell from the Baltic Klipper cargo ship in the Solent shipping channel off the coast of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight on 6 December.
Seatrade, which owns the ship, says 13 of the 16 containers have been recovered in West Sussex, but work remains ongoing to clean up the remaining parts of the cargo and debris.
The company said it had been working closely with UK authorities, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and local councils to locate the missing containers.
The British Maritime Accident Investigation Agency has launched a formal investigation into the incident and Seatrade said it was offering its full cooperation.
"Directly after the incident, Baltic Klipper was inspected at Portsmouth anchorage and underwent temporary repairs," a company spokesperson said.
"After conducting its scheduled cargo operations in port, the vessels received clearance from authorities and relevant parties to proceed its voyage to the next port of call."
Seatrade thanked volunteers for their "invaluable" help in the response to the incident and said it would make a donation to support local charities.
No crew members were injured in the incident and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the cargo was "non-hazardous".
But as containers washed up on the shore, residents described scenes of "carnage" and likened the sea to "polystyrene soup".
Eight containers carried bananas – some with Tesco labels – while two had avocados and one plantain. The others were empty.
Seven containers washed up in Selsey, two at Pagham Harbour, and two at Bognor Regis.
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