The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has launched an investigation into the loss of cargo from the container vessel Baltic Klipper in the Solent on 6 December 2025.
Cleanup starts after banana containers wash ashore
At around 18:00, the Liberia-flagged vessel lost 16 refrigerated containers while preparing to embark a pilot about three nautical miles east of the Isle of Wight, ahead of entry into Portsmouth. The vessel encountered rough seas, heavy swell, and strong south-westerly winds at the time.
Authorities temporarily closed the Solent deep-water channel due to the risk posed by semi-submerged containers, disrupting port operations. Thirteen containers have since washed ashore at Selsey, Bognor Regis, and Pagham Harbour, scattering food products and plastic insulation along the coast. Three containers remain missing, and clean-up operations are ongoing.
Initial findings suggest some containers were not properly secured. They fell overboard when the vessel rolled heavily while manoeuvring to pick up a pilot.
MAIB’s investigation will examine the causes of the incident, including the practice of removing cargo securing arrangements while vessels are still underway before port entry, as well as the environmental impact. The aim is to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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