A series of shipping containers filled with bananas washed up on the beaches of West Sussex, England, following an incident involving the refrigerated cargo ship Baltic Klipper. The ship lost 16 containers while navigating the Solent between the Isle of Wight and the British mainland on March 9, 2024. West Sussex County Council has issued warnings for the public to stay away from the affected areas as cleanup operations commence.
The HM Coastguard initially instructed individuals to report any findings to the receiver of wreck, a government official responsible for recovering lost maritime property. However, as the contents of the containers were perishable, the receiver confirmed on Monday that there was no need for formal reporting in this case. This clarification did not deter local authorities from urging caution. The county council emphasized the necessity for space and time to safely clear the containers and their contents from the shoreline.
The incident caused disturbances in shipping operations, notably delaying the departure of the cruise ship Iona from Southampton. Of the containers that fell overboard, eight were confirmed to contain bananas, two contained plantains, and one held avocados, while the remaining five were empty. Five containers made landfall near Selsey, with some breaking open and allowing the bananas to float onto the beaches.
As a precaution, the coastguard, along with the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and Sussex Police, established cordons around the affected area, advising the public against approaching the containers. They issued a reminder that all wreck material found in the UK must be reported to HM Coastguard’s receiver of wreck, and those failing to do so within 28 days could face a fine of up to £2,500.
This incident draws comparisons to a similar event in 2007 when containers from the cargo ship MSC Napoli washed ashore in Devon, leading many to scavenge items that had spilled over, including various household goods and luxury items. This time, however, Steve White, the receiver of wreck, a former police detective, stated that his involvement was not required due to the nature of the cargo.
The Baltic Klipper had been transporting fruit from South America since mid-November. After docking in Mexico and the Netherlands, it was en route to Portsmouth when the containers reportedly slipped off. The coastguard has deployed helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to search for the remaining missing containers.
West Sussex County Council reiterated the importance of public safety, warning, “Do not approach the containers; they may be hazardous. Please avoid the area and allow us to make the site safe.” It is believed that the bananas were intended for UK supermarkets, with Tesco labels seen on some of the goods. The supermarket reassured customers that there was no cause for alarm, as they maintained a sufficient supply of bananas available both in-store and online.
As the cleanup progresses, local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritizing public safety while ensuring that the environmental impacts of the incident are managed effectively.
