A significant cleanup effort is underway along the West Sussex coast after a cargo ship, the Baltic Klipper, lost 16 shipping containers into the Solent near the Nab Tower on Saturday evening.

By Monday afternoon, 11 of the 16 containers had washed up at various locations in West Sussex. Seven were found in Selsey, two at Pagham Harbour, and two at Bognor. Some containers released their contents, which mainly included fruit and polystyrene, covering the beaches and nearby residential areas.

The containers included non-hazardous items, such as eight containers of bananas, two of plantains, one of avocados, and five that were empty. Fortunately, no crew members were hurt in the incident.

The response is being coordinated by Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, and West Sussex County Council, with the help of Ambipar, an environmental management company hired to secure the containers and clean up the debris. “The first step is to assess the affected areas and understand the size of the problem so we can create appropriate plans,” said the councils in a joint statement.

Ambipar is using proven shoreline cleanup techniques to gather and sort waste, which is then taken to a nearby parking area for proper disposal. Teams are also visiting homes where debris has come in, assisting residents in cleaning up their gardens. Skips have been set up in Bognor Regis and Selsey to make waste collection easier.

HM Coastguard is using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to search offshore for the remaining containers, working with the ship's owners to recover them.

Authorities have issued safety warnings for residents and volunteers. They urge those who want to help to stay safe, as sharp metal from the containers can be found on the beaches. Officials emphasize that any collected waste should be left in designated areas and not taken away by individuals.

There are cordons around the container sites, with HM Coastguard, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and Sussex Police monitoring the situation. Security measures are in place to prevent the containers from drifting back into the sea.

The public is reminded to report any wreck material found in the UK to HM Coastguard's Receiver of Wreck within 28 days, except for perishable items like food.

Anyone who sees additional containers should inform the Coastguard at 0344 382 0560.

“The cleanup will take some time,” authorities said, thanking community members for their help with the waste collection. Investigations into the remaining containers are ongoing, with updates to follow as the situation develops.