Clean-up operations are under way after 16 containers fell from the cargo ship Baltic Klipper off the Isle of Wight on Saturday evening.
Most of the containers were carrying bananas, while others contained plantains and avocados.
Several containers were empty.
The incident occurred near the Nab Tower lighthouse, close to Bembridge, at around 18:00 GMT. Local authorities reported that several containers washed ashore along the Sussex coast, including seven near Selsey, two at Pagham Harbour, and two at Bognor Regis.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) launched a search operation, deploying a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft to survey the area for missing containers. Safety warnings have been issued to vessels navigating the Solent, the sea stretch separating the Isle from England.
Shipping traffic was disrupted, with P&O Cruises delaying the departure of its ship Iona from Southampton due to floating debris.
West Sussex County Council, Arun District Council and Chichester District Council are overseeing the recovery of containers and removal of cargo from beaches.
Authorities urged members of the public to report any goods recovered from the containers to the Coastguard’s Receiver of Wreck, warning that failure to declare items within 28 days was a legal offence. Spoiled or perishable goods, however, are exempt.
Tesco labels were spotted on some of the fruit, though the supermarket confirmed that stock levels remained stable.
Maritime experts said the Baltic Klipper was a refrigerated cargo vessel that regularly transported fruit from the Caribbean and West Africa. Officials confirmed that no crew members were injured and that the cargo was non-hazardous. Recovery operations are ongoing, as floating containers continue to pose a risk to vessels.
The incident highlights a broader trend in 2025, a year that has already seen a notable number of containers lost at sea globally.
According to the World Shipping Council, approximately 576 containers were lost in 2024, a sharp increase from 221 in 2023, although still below the ten-year average of 1 274. Most losses are due to rough weather, accidents, or shipping reroutes, and even a single incident like the Baltic Klipper spill can have significant local consequences, from environmental hazards to disrupted shipping traffic.
While container losses remain a tiny fraction of the millions shipped annually, 2025 has already seen multiple incidents worldwide, underscoring the ongoing risks of transporting cargo by sea and the importance of coordinated response efforts.
