A significant cleanup operation is underway along the West Sussex coast following the loss of 16 shipping containers from the cargo ship Baltic Klipper. This incident occurred on Saturday evening near the Nab Tower in the Solent. By Monday afternoon, 11 of the containers had washed ashore at various sites, including Selsey, Pagham Harbour, and Bognor. The contents, mainly non-hazardous items like fruit and polystyrene, have created a mess along the beaches and in nearby residential areas.
Local authorities, including Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, and West Sussex County Council, are spearheading the response effort. They are collaborating with Ambipar, an environmental management firm tasked with securing the containers and collecting debris. Initial assessments of affected sites are ongoing to implement effective cleanup strategies. Ambipar is utilizing established shoreline cleanup techniques to categorize and dispose of waste appropriately.
HM Coastguard has deployed both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to locate the remaining containers, while safety warnings have been issued to residents and volunteers about the potential dangers, including sharp metal debris. Cordon measures are in place around the impacted areas to prevent further risks. Community members are encouraged to report any sightings of additional containers to the Coastguard, as the clean-up process is expected to take time.
