Sixteen cargo containers, most of them loaded with bananas, fell overboard from a refrigerated cargo ship off the Isle of Wight, prompting safety warnings for vessels navigating the busy Solent.
The containers came loose from the Baltic Klipper near the Nab Tower lighthouse, close to Bembridge, at around 18:00 GMT on Saturday, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
HM Coastguard immediately launched aerial searches to track the drifting containers, while broadcasts were issued to warn local and commercial shipping operating in the area.
The MCA confirmed that no crew members were injured in the incident and stressed that the containers held non-hazardous cargo, ruling out environmental contamination concerns.
Of the 16 containers lost, eight were carrying bananas, two were loaded with avocados, one contained plantains, and five were empty, authorities said. Five containers have already washed ashore in Selsey, West Sussex, where emergency services established a cordon after boxes and loose fruit appeared along the beach.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police, and local coastguard rescue teams were deployed to the area to manage public safety and prevent interference with wreck material.
The MCA advised members of the public to avoid the affected shoreline and to report any items found to the Receiver of Wreck, a legal requirement under UK maritime law.
“All wreck material found in the UK has to be reported to HM Coastguard,” the MCA said, warning that failure to declare recovered items within 28 days could lead to legal action.
Shipping movements in the Solent were temporarily disrupted as authorities assessed the risk posed by the drifting containers to vessels using the narrow and heavily trafficked waters.
The P&O Cruises ship Iona, capable of carrying up to 5,200 passengers, was among vessels affected, with its departure from Southampton delayed due to navigational obstructions.
The cruise liner had been scheduled to leave on Saturday for a 14-day voyage to Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands, but was only cleared to sail at around 13:00 GMT on Sunday.
Steve Wenham, a maritime worker from Portsmouth familiar with Solent operations, described the Baltic Klipper as a regular visitor to the region. He said the vessel specialises in transporting refrigerated fruit and typically follows monthly routes from the Caribbean or West Africa.
Mr Wenham warned that floating containers pose a serious hazard, particularly in congested shipping lanes, where collisions could cause significant damage to vessels. “If any containers have sunk they’re not going to be a problem,” he said. “But the ones still afloat are the real danger.”
HM Coastguard said it is continuing to monitor the situation closely while working with the ship’s owners, who are legally responsible for recovering the lost containers. Patrols remain active off Selsey and surrounding waters, as efforts continue to locate remaining containers and reduce risks to navigation and public safety.
