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Cargo ship timber washing ashore Cargo ship timber washing ashore
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of tonnes of timber which fell from a cargo ship in the Channel has begun hitting the Kent coast.Hundreds of tonnes of timber which fell from a cargo ship in the Channel has begun hitting the Kent coast.
Sawn wood has begun to wash ashore at Pegwell Bay and Ramsgate Harbour, Dover Coastguard said. Large amounts of wood have washed ashore on the coastline around Ramsgate and Margate, Dover Coastguard said.
The Russian-registered Sinegorsk shed its 1,500-tonne load during rough seas in a major shipping lane, 14 miles of Newhaven, East Sussex, on Monday. The Russian-registered Sinegorsk shed its 1,500-tonne load during rough seas in a major shipping lane, 14 miles off Newhaven, East Sussex, on Monday.
The vessel has berthed in Southampton to allow damage to be assessed and remaining cargo to be secured.The vessel has berthed in Southampton to allow damage to be assessed and remaining cargo to be secured.
On Thursday, Dover coastguard said a "fair quantity" was coming ashore. On Thursday, Dover coastguard said a "fair quantity" was coming ashore. A fisherman... said he'd never seen so much wood in his life Dover coastguard
We're telling people not to endanger themselves by entering the water to recover it Dover Coastguard spokesman A spokesman said: "It is starting to come ashore now between Pegwell Bay and Ramsgate and up towards Margate.
A spokesman said that not all the ship's cargo was expected to wash ashore in east Kent, and some would probably go past. "We have just received a report from a fisherman a mile east of Broadstairs to say there's a massive amount of it there.
The coastguard was anchoring a tug off Margate to monitor the situation, he added. "He said he'd never seen so much wood in his life."
He also said: "We're telling people not to endanger themselves by entering the water to recover it." Adding that coastguards had safety concerns about people who tried to take the wood, he said: "If they wade in to recover it they are putting themselves in real danger as the sea is so rough."
And he said people who tried to recover wood without completing paperwork for the Receiver of Wreck would be deemed as offending if they were apprehended by the police. 'Keep safe distance'
The form to complete in order to recover the timber can be found on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency website, he added. Kent Police have also warned people not to remove any timber from the shoreline.
Alison Kentuck, Receiver of Wreck, has said that any timber washed ashore would remain the legal property of its original owner. Ch Supt John Molloy said: "We are working with the coastguard and our partner agencies to make the beaches safe.
In January 2007, scavengers swarmed to Branscombe in Devon in search of goods after the grounding of the MSC Napoli, when items ranging from BMW motorbikes to King Edward potatoes spilled from the deck. "I would like to remind people that the shoreline can be a dangerous place, particularly with the current poor weather and people could be putting themselves at unnecessary risk by venturing into the sea to salvage the timber. We are not trying to ruin people's fun Ch Supt John Molloy
After the Ice Prince timber carrier shed its 2,000-tonne load of wood off Sussex last year, the vast majority was collected by a contractor paid for by the insurers. "This cargo remains the property of the original owner and to steal it is not only foolhardy, but also a criminal offence."
Coastguards said Sinegorsk's insurers were arranging for contractors to recover wood washed ashore. He added: "Whilst I appreciate that this sight is not commonplace and people may wish to take a look, we ask that they do this from a safe distance and leave the timber alone.
"Where appropriate, we will also take action against those who create a nuisance, park dangerously or trespass."
Anyone who wants to visit the shore has been asked to park considerately so that emergency access to the area remains open.
Mr Molloy said: "We are not trying to ruin people's fun but the winter coastline is not a place to take risks."