Biscay Storm Lost Containers Sighted, One Lands on UK Beach

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) was informed that a number of containers were lost from a Maersk cargo ship as it crossed the northern stretches of the Bay of Biscay in stormy conditions on 14, February 2014. Some have now been spotted and one has been washed ashore reports the agency in an update.

Simon Porter, MCA Counter Pollution and Salvage Officer, now informs: "We have been carrying out extensive searches over the last four days and spotted three containers, one of which has since come ashore and the other two are mid-Channel. We are now working closely with Maersk to ensure they recover their containers, which are their property."

According to the 'Western Morning News', police are patrolling a beach in Devon after a shipping container carrying tonnes of cigarettes washed ashore. The huge container, which was spotted at Axmouth, near Seaton, at 8.11am is believed to be carrying around 14 tonnes of cigarettes.

Simon Porter continued in the MCA news release: "The public is reminded that all wreck material found in the UK has to be reported to the MCA's Receiver of Wreck by completing a form on our website - https://afrmmcanet.mcga.gov.uk/formspublic/ROW/MSF6200.pdf.

"Those who don't declare items are breaking the law and could find themselves facing hefty fines and paying the owner twice the value of the item recovered.”

Source: MCA, Western Morning News