Feb 13 • 16:35 UTC 🇫🇷 France France24

Lost shipping containers: Onions, plastic pellets and phones wash ashore

Shipping containers lost at sea are washing ashore in Europe, bringing with them various items including onions and plastic pellets.

Every year, a massive number of shipping containers traverse the world's oceans, with approximately 250 million containers shipped annually. However, a significant amount never reach their intended destinations due to storms that cause them to fall off cargo ships and subsequently wash Ashore, creating pollution and environmental concerns. Recently, southern England's beaches were left inundated with thousands of onions and frozen French fries from lost cargo, highlighting the issue of lost containers.

The situation escalated further when nearly 30 tons of plastic pellets washed up on Spanish beaches. These plastic pellets are known for being harmful to marine wildlife and pose significant dangers to coastal ecosystems. The containers that fell off a Norwegian cargo ship recently became a source of public concern, as they contain materials that can add to the plastic pollution crisis, commonly seen in oceans and coastal areas.

This event serves as a reminder of the broader logistical challenges in shipping and the environmental repercussions of lost cargo. It raises awareness about the need for improved regulations and response strategies for such incidents to mitigate their impact on the seas and shorelines, further stressing the importance of developing sustainable practices in the shipping industry.

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