Banana containers 'not properly secured' on ship

Some of the 16 shipping containers mostly filled with bananas that fell off a cargo ship were "not properly secured", an investigation has suggested.

They fell from the Baltic Klipper cargo ship off the Isle of Wight and into the Solent on 6 December, with seven washing up in Selsey, two at Pagham Harbour and two at Bognor Regis. Three have yet to be found.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said early findings showed some of them might have been lost when it "rolled heavily" in rough seas.

Contractors and volunteers have scoured 28km (17 miles) of beach across West Sussex clearing fruit, metal and foam which were lost from the containers from the Liberia-registered ship.

The Solent deep-water channel was closed briefly after the accident because of the potential risk of colliding with semi-submerged containers.

The MAIB said its investigation will seek to find the cause of the accident, understand why it happened and make recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

"The investigation will focus on the practice of removing cargo securing arrangements while vessels are underway before entering port and the impact of the pollution," it said.

Local authorities said six containers and partial containers have been recovered as part of the "complex and protracted operation", with two from Bognor Regis and four from Selsey.

In a statement, West Sussex County Council, Arun District Council and Chichester District Council said more than 51 tonnes of organic waste and nearly three tonnes of general waste have been collected.

Volunteers are being sought to clear up in Selsey and Bognor Regis over the weekend, they added.

There is currently no confirmed timeline for when all of the rubbish and containers will be removed.

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