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| Can a timber surprise build profit? | Can a timber surprise build profit? |
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| By Andy McFarlane BBC News | By Andy McFarlane BBC News |
| Tonnes of timber spilled from a Russian cargo ship is expected to wash ashore in the coming days but, as BBC News finds out, it may not provide a windfall for those who claim it. | Tonnes of timber spilled from a Russian cargo ship is expected to wash ashore in the coming days but, as BBC News finds out, it may not provide a windfall for those who claim it. |
| To some it will be a blight on the coastline, to others an environmental disaster. | To some it will be a blight on the coastline, to others an environmental disaster. |
| But when the 1,500 tonnes of timber spilled from the stricken Sinegorsk cargo ship washes up somewhere along Britain's south coast, it is likely to prompt a rush among scavengers. | But when the 1,500 tonnes of timber spilled from the stricken Sinegorsk cargo ship washes up somewhere along Britain's south coast, it is likely to prompt a rush among scavengers. |
| Almost exactly a year before the Russian-registered vessel hit trouble, much of the 2,000-tonne load shed by another timber carrier - the Ice Prince - began washing ashore along the Sussex coast. | Almost exactly a year before the Russian-registered vessel hit trouble, much of the 2,000-tonne load shed by another timber carrier - the Ice Prince - began washing ashore along the Sussex coast. |
| The beach at Worthing, in West Sussex, proved a magnet for chancers seizing the opportunity to make a quick buck by harvesting the unexpected crop for sale, or to use at home.Scavengers collected goods including motorbikes from Branscombe beach | The beach at Worthing, in West Sussex, proved a magnet for chancers seizing the opportunity to make a quick buck by harvesting the unexpected crop for sale, or to use at home.Scavengers collected goods including motorbikes from Branscombe beach |
| It was quickly closed for safety reasons, as the authorities feared a repeat of the scenes at Branscombe in Devon a year earlier. | It was quickly closed for safety reasons, as the authorities feared a repeat of the scenes at Branscombe in Devon a year earlier. |
| There, hundreds of people had ignored safety warnings to flock to the beach to collect items. | There, hundreds of people had ignored safety warnings to flock to the beach to collect items. |
| The booty ranged from BMW motorbikes and electrical goods to King Edward potatoes and casks of wine, spilled from the deck of the grounded MSC Napoli. | The booty ranged from BMW motorbikes and electrical goods to King Edward potatoes and casks of wine, spilled from the deck of the grounded MSC Napoli. |
| The report of a Devon County Council inquiry, published on Tuesday, suggested that police felt powerless to intervene and recommended the creation of a land-based "all-powerful commander" to prevent chaos when similar incidents occur in the future. | |
| However, while some of the Branscombe scavengers have managed to hold onto their finds, others quickly discovered the law was not on their side. | |
| Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, it is an offence to "wrongfully carry away or remove" any part of a stranded ship's cargo. | Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, it is an offence to "wrongfully carry away or remove" any part of a stranded ship's cargo. |
| Someone could legitimately argue that they are recovering the goods to protect them, because they would be in a poorer state come four or five tides' time. | Someone could legitimately argue that they are recovering the goods to protect them, because they would be in a poorer state come four or five tides' time. |
| However, they must then report the find to the official Receiver of Wreck or risk a £2,500 fine and having to pay the owner twice the value of the item. | However, they must then report the find to the official Receiver of Wreck or risk a £2,500 fine and having to pay the owner twice the value of the item. |
| Flotsam and jetsam | Flotsam and jetsam |
| The historic post of receiver dates to 1854, when a previous act set out the rules on picking up flotsam and jetsam, and it is a role that involves reuniting the owner with the property. | The historic post of receiver dates to 1854, when a previous act set out the rules on picking up flotsam and jetsam, and it is a role that involves reuniting the owner with the property. |
| Depending on the value of the goods, their condition and the effort involved in recovering them, the finder could receive payment for their salvaging efforts. | Depending on the value of the goods, their condition and the effort involved in recovering them, the finder could receive payment for their salvaging efforts. |
| In the case of the Kodima, which shed its timber cargo off Cornwall in 2002, the insurers waived their ownership rights, having concluded it was not worthwhile to collect the timber and pay a reward to the salvagers. | In the case of the Kodima, which shed its timber cargo off Cornwall in 2002, the insurers waived their ownership rights, having concluded it was not worthwhile to collect the timber and pay a reward to the salvagers. |
| In such cases, or if the owner does not come forward within a year, the cargo becomes property of the Crown and will usually be sold off or auctioned. We've had plenty of tales of people building a lean-to or putting up a new fence [with timber from the Ice Prince] Stefan SykesWorthing Arts Council chairmanShip loses timber in rough seas | In such cases, or if the owner does not come forward within a year, the cargo becomes property of the Crown and will usually be sold off or auctioned. We've had plenty of tales of people building a lean-to or putting up a new fence [with timber from the Ice Prince] Stefan SykesWorthing Arts Council chairmanShip loses timber in rough seas |
| However, there is a chink of light for those hoping to profit from their beachcombing endeavours. | However, there is a chink of light for those hoping to profit from their beachcombing endeavours. |
| "In many cases, the finder will be allowed to keep items of unclaimed wreck in lieu of a salvage award," according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. | "In many cases, the finder will be allowed to keep items of unclaimed wreck in lieu of a salvage award," according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. |
| Even if there is no financial reward, there could be a surprising social benefit to what initially seems like a disaster, as the people of Worthing are discovering. | Even if there is no financial reward, there could be a surprising social benefit to what initially seems like a disaster, as the people of Worthing are discovering. |
| News of the Sinegorsk's travails reached Stefan Sykes, chairman of Worthing Arts Council, just as he was preparing for the unveiling of a stained glass work of public art on the town's pier. | News of the Sinegorsk's travails reached Stefan Sykes, chairman of Worthing Arts Council, just as he was preparing for the unveiling of a stained glass work of public art on the town's pier. |
| The event marked the beginning of the Ice Prince Arts Festival, funded by a £5,000 grant from the borough council to commemorate the effect the ship had on the town. | The event marked the beginning of the Ice Prince Arts Festival, funded by a £5,000 grant from the borough council to commemorate the effect the ship had on the town. |
| "It proved to be a bit of a tourist coup for the town," said Mr Sykes. | "It proved to be a bit of a tourist coup for the town," said Mr Sykes. |
| 'Enormous spectacle' | 'Enormous spectacle' |
| "It was a very quiet January and suddenly a flock of people came to see what was happening and ended up spending a lot of money here. | "It was a very quiet January and suddenly a flock of people came to see what was happening and ended up spending a lot of money here. |
| "It was an enormous spectacle that most people enjoyed - even if they did moan about the beach being closed. | "It was an enormous spectacle that most people enjoyed - even if they did moan about the beach being closed. |
| "The festival is a way of bringing some of that interest back." | "The festival is a way of bringing some of that interest back." |
| The result is a week of specially-commissioned film, sculpture and music events, all inspired by the Greek vessel's untimely end. | The result is a week of specially-commissioned film, sculpture and music events, all inspired by the Greek vessel's untimely end. |
| However, organisers were forced to draw the line at creating a work based on people's tales of what they did with the wood they pinched, for fear of the salvage merchants pursuing legal cases. | However, organisers were forced to draw the line at creating a work based on people's tales of what they did with the wood they pinched, for fear of the salvage merchants pursuing legal cases. |
| "Quite a lot was taken by people snaffling it in the night," said Mr Sykes. | "Quite a lot was taken by people snaffling it in the night," said Mr Sykes. |
| "We've had plenty of tales of people building a lean-to or putting up a new fence." | "We've had plenty of tales of people building a lean-to or putting up a new fence." |