Beach Cleanup: Authorities Slow on Container Spill

Volunteers cleaning a Sussex beach following the washing ashore of 40 shipping containers have expressed dissatisfaction with the speed of the official response. Residents in Pevensey Bay are still engaged in daily efforts to clear the shoreline, noting that plastic foam is fragmenting due to insufficient promptness in its removal.

The incident involved containers lost from three vessels between December and January. Debris found along the coast included whole containers, fragments, and their contents, such as tinned milk, chips, onions, and bananas. Wealden District Council stated it is collaborating with partners to monitor and clear the coastline until all debris is gone.

Seatrade, one of the involved companies, is cooperating with authorities to salvage 17 containers. NSC Shipping is providing assistance to coastguards. A volunteer described finding a dead gannet entangled in plastic foam and netting, and noted the heartbreaking sight of numerous fish washing ashore. Onions, toxic to dogs, also littered the beach.

Residents have contacted their MP, Kieran Mullan, seeking information about the companies involved, the ongoing investigation, and preventative measures. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported that most containers have been recovered or are believed to have sunk. Recovery operations for fragments occurred at sea, with aerial surveys conducted off the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, and Sussex.

The owners of the vessels are responsible for container recovery, with coastguards monitoring the situation. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is conducting its own investigation. Seatrade, through its insurers and contractors, is working with local and national authorities to remove debris, deploying a helicopter for difficult-to-access areas. The company acknowledged and thanked the numerous volunteers and emphasized full cooperation with UK authorities, the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency, and local councils.