The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said a container, ‘off Littlehampton’, was ‘recovered by a contracted salvage vessel’, on Tuesday (January 13)
Other containers at Selsey, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Rustington, Rottingdean and Beachy Head are ‘currently being monitored’, the MCA added, in its statement on Wednesday afternoon.
The MCA added: “An HM Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft has been sent to surveil the area this morning and continues to monitor for further missing units. All containers will be assessed to establish their origin.
"Cargo lists confirm that the contents of containers that went overboard from two vessels on January 8 are non-hazardous.
"The recovery of all containers remains the responsibility of the vessels' operators, which HM Coastguard is liaising with along with salvors.”
The arrival of a shipping container in Elmer, Bognor Regis on Monday (January 12), marked the start of a new county-wide situation, with authorities and volunteers springing back into action.
At 7.50am on Tuesday (January 13), Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to three shipping containers reported ashore at Seaford.
Around 11am, another container appeared at Selsey Bill.
Agencies remain unsure if they are some of those lost from the Baltic Klipper in December, or from ships near the Isle of Wight last week.
Amid the unfolding situation in West Sussex, the county council issued a joint statement with Arun District Council and Chichester District Council.
“Teams involved in the clean-up of waste from the West Sussex shoreline are responding as more containers and debris come ashore,” the statement – on Wednesday morning – read.
"Ambipar have recovered a significant amount of debris from the container washed ashore at Elmer in Bognor Regis. AR Banks remain on site to recover the container sections across the region. To date, it has not yet been possible to recover most of the container at Elmer Beach because of the weather and water conditions and this work is ongoing.
“A further container that landed at Selsey has been partially recovered by AR Banks teams, who will return to site to recover the remainder over the coming days as weather and sea conditions permit.”
The councils said there remains ‘no confirmation yet’ on the ‘provenance of the containers’ that have washed ashore.
They added: “Teams involved are also responding to further waste materials coming ashore right across the West Sussex coastline, from the West Witterings to Shoreham.
“We would like to remind members of the public that any containers and their contents that have been washed ashore may well be unsafe both for people and animals. We therefore strongly advise you not to go near them and help by also keeping children and pets clear.”
Any sightings of containers should be reported to Solent Coastguard on 0344 382 0560 or via VHF radio. Non-perishable wreck material arriving on shore, including cargo, must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck within 28 days.
5. New shipping container situation unfolds
Authorities responded to a shipping container, that washed ashore at Elmer, on Monday (January 12). Photo: EDDIE MITCHELL