'This is a massive job' - Beach clean-ups continue in West Sussex after shipping containers wash ashore and 'things are changing all the time'

The Selsey Beach Litter Ninjas said on Tuesday (December 9) that they ‘still need so much help clearing foam and plastic before they break down anymore’.

Donna Tretheway, who runs the volunteer group, spoke to Sussex World on Thursday.

She said: “It's been an incredible response from near and far. People have put in back-breaking hours of work going up and down that shingle in all weathers, carrying extremely heavy stuff.

“Honestly, the response has been remarkable. It’s been jaw-dropping and what they've achieved is outstanding.

"I'm so proud of the whole community, not just from Selsey, but people that have travelled all over to come here and help because people care so much and that has shone through.”

Sixteen shipping containers washed up on the West Sussex shoreline, from the ship Baltic Klipper, on Saturday (December 6).

Arun District Council, Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council are leading the clean-up – supported by an environmental management company Ambipar. A significant response has also been mobilised by the community thanks to several local residents and litter picker groups.

Explaining how the incident unfolded, Donna said: “We got an alert by the Coastguard that some containers had fallen overboard from a ship and that they were due to be washing up on Selsey’s beaches.

"Initially, it was believed that the problem would be only the contents, which was bananas, plantains, flowers and avocados. However, that proved not to be the issue.

"As the containers washed up, they broke up. We had spring tides, heavy waves and all of the contents of the containers spilled out. The biggest problem was the insulating polyurethane foam. Initially, we were taking off pieces off the beach that were two to three foot big.

“It was breaking up that quickly in front of our eyes. We have taken off hundreds and hundreds of plastic crates – more plastic bags than I could possibly estimate.”

The containers which have washed up were carrying fruit such as bananas and avocados, which were heading for supermarkets.

"The bananas were not the priority at first,” Donna said. “Removing all of that stuff was so that it didn't break down into the smaller pieces that would become really difficult to remove.

“We're on the western edge of Sussex Bay, which has seen an incredible recovery in its seabed. We do our utmost to protect that and keep that fragile recovery going.

"The baskets are breaking down into microplastics, not only on the beach but sinking into the shingle.

"The foam has broken down into pieces that are now millimetres big, and we need special machinery to come in and hoover those out of the stones. The containers are still breaking up, unfortunately, because they're still in situ.

“They are still releasing things into the environment and we don't know of any plan to remove them – though I believe one is being formulated. So the sea is still being hit by large pieces of metal.”

Donna Johnson, a Green and Independent Alliance councillor for the Selsey division, said the team from Ambipar, in high vis jackets, have on site at East Beach.

"They are providing security for sites, and they are going to anchor the containers,” the councillor said, on Thursday.

"CDC and coastal partners are aware there is damage to groynes, at West Beach, caused by the containers breaking up.

"Ambipar have two survey teams – one collecting and one based at EB. More teams will be deployed. Yesterday was about mobilising, and understanding and dealing with the risks.

"Time scale is around a fortnight to, hopefully, restore the beach to state it was.

"Waste needs to go through Ambipar so we know it will be properly disposed of, and how much to claim against the shipping line.

"Local authorities are monitoring staff levels from Ambipar, and seeing what they've done. They are prioritising getting the plastic before more breaks up.

"With regard to people going down to help with the clean up, the advice is still to stay away, because amongst other things, there is metal in the shingle.

"All the agencies involved appreciate what everyone has done, and understand why, but with a safety first approach, they would rather people stayed safe and didn't go to beach.

"Tthis is a massive job, and things are changing all the time.”

Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller said on Thursday that she was ‘pleased to get out of Westminster’ and ‘join some of the fabulous volunteers’ on the beach at Selsey.

The MP said she thanked the volunteers for their hard work over the last few days and to ‘fill some bags myself’.

She added: “I also received a full briefing from Ambipar, who are coordinating the clear-up including removing the storage containers from the beach.

“I spoke to the BBC on-site about the incredible community response, which continues every day.

“If you’d like to support, the Ninjas are working their way along the beach and teams in high-vis can instruct.”