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Containers full of fruit fell from a cargo ship into the Solent on Saturday Credit: Eddie Mitchell
Fruit litters West Sussex beach after 16 containers fell off cargo ship near Isle of Wight
Tom McArdle
07 December 2025 12:19pm GMT
Beachgoers taking home any of the thousands of bananas that washed up on a West Sussex beach have been warned they could be prosecuted.
Fruit washed ashore almost 24 hours after 16 containers fell off a cargo ship in choppy seas near the Isle of Wight.
Bananas and plantains began littering the beach at Selsey on Sunday morning as shipping lanes ground to a halt.
Locals descended on the scene to bag them up, with coastguard officers also pictured gathering the Tesco-bound bananas.
Authorities have since warned anyone in the area whose shopping lists no longer contain bananas as a result of the apparent free-for-all, to report their find within 28 days or face prosecution.
Children helped collect the washed up bananas on Selsey Beach in West Sussex Credit: Harry Emmence/Solent News
Anyone found guilty of failing to declare a wreck find without a reasonable excuse could face a £2,500 fine under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
Eight of the containers that went overboard into the Solent off Bembridge at around 6pm on Saturday were filled with bananas, two had plantain, one had avocado and five were empty.
Two containers came ashore at Selsey, while a third came close but currents returned it back to sea.
Footage from the beachfront showed waves lapping at the damaged containers as their products spilled out onto the pebble seafront.
Some 16 containers slipped from a cargo ship into the Solent Credit: EDDIE MITCHELL
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said: “The public are advised to avoid the area and are reminded that all wreck material found in the UK has to be reported to HM Coastguard’s Receiver of Wreck,” a spokesman said.
“Those who fail to declare items within 28 days are breaking the law and may have further action taken against them.”
The containers were on the Baltic Klipper near the Nab Tower lighthouse, off Bembridge, when 47mph winds and rain hit on Saturday evening.
The 540ft refrigerated cargo ship, which is currently sailing under the flag of Liberia, specialises in carrying soft fruit and travels to and from the Caribbean, South America and West Africa.
The MCA said a cordon had been set up in Selsey, where West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police, and local coastguard rescue teams were in attendance.
Two containers washed up on the shingle beach and the others are blocking shipping lanes Credit: Eddie Mitchell
The remaining 14 containers have not been recovered and are blocking shipping lanes.
Their presence in the water presents a risk to ships, which have had broadcasts sent to them warning of their presence.
Iona, a P&O Cruises ship, had its departure from Southampton delayed from Saturday until Sunday as a result of the debris.
The cruise ship, which has a capacity of 5,200 passengers, eventually set sail at 1pm on Sunday for a 14-day trip to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands.
Fruit started washing up at Selsey on Sunday morning
An MCA spokesman said: “HM Coastguard is continuing to work with the relevant authorities after 16 containers went overboard from the cargo ship Baltic Klipper in the Solent on 6 December.
“This includes working with the vessel’s owners who are responsible for recovering the containers.
“Eight of the containers were reported as carrying bananas, two as carrying plantain, one as carrying avocados, and the remaining five as empty.
“Two containers have come ashore at Selsey, where a cordon has been put in place. Coastguard rescue teams from Selsey and Littlehampton, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and Sussex Police are all in attendance.”
Original:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/07/bananas-in-sea-delay-cruise-ship-isle-of-wight-iona
