Issue date: 19 December 2025
Joint statement from West Sussex County Council, Arun District Council, and Chichester District Council
Teams working on the clean-up of the West Sussex shoreline continue to make progress in all weather conditions as we head towards Christmas week.
Containers from the cargo ship Baltic Klipper came ashore at locations between Selsey and Bognor Regis, with debris having been found over a larger distance.
Work began this week to remove the containers. To date six containers and partial containers have been recovered; 2 from Bognor Regis and 4 from Selsey. Containers will be taken away for breaking down and final disposal.
Teams from environment specialists Ambipar are moving along the beaches with vacuums to retrieve smaller pieces of foam, and continuing to recover metal, foam, organic material and other waste. So far more than 51 tonnes of organic waste, and almost 3 tonnes of general waste have been disposed of.
The work is being led and co-ordinated by West Sussex County Council together with Arun District Council and Chichester District Council.
It remains a complex and protracted operation involving many teams, agencies and personnel, all focused on the priorities of public safety and protecting the environment.
If you are planning on heading to the shoreline, please help us by keeping yourself and others safe and enjoy the coastline without putting yourself at risk:
- Do not approach, climb on or move remaining containers; they may break apart or shift without warning and may contain sharp metal and plastics
- Keep children and pets away from affected areas
- Follow signage and instruction from on-site teams
Waste and debris from the containers is still being washed ashore with each tide. If you spot this, please report it as soon as possible by contacting Ambipar:
- Call 01202 653558
- Email marine.response@ambipar.com
Photo credit: Ambipar
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered so far with the clean-up. If you would still like to do so, your support is still valued but may now need to be targeted in specific areas.
We ask anyone looking to volunteer this weekend to speak with the on-site teams from Ambipar at East Beach car park in Selsey, where equipment will be available, or at the Gloucester Road site in Bognor Regis, where some limited supplies will be available.
Volunteers must follow the direction given from officials on site to ensure their safety, including:
- Be aware of hazards on the beach including sharp materials such as metal and plastic that can also be heavy and unstable
- Be aware of and stay away from machinery in use on the beach and around the shoreline
- Be mindful of the tides, currents, tide times and daylight hours and not working longer than it is safe to do so
- Keep well back from the waterline and do not go into the water
- Do not work on your own. Buddy up, work in pairs or small teams
- Wear sensible warm, water-proof and weather-proof clothing and safe, sturdy footwear
- Do not attempt to climb on rocks or other structures, or retrieve materials that could place you in any kind of danger
- Wear gloves and make use of equipment such as litter pickers
- Do not bring young children or pets
- Do not enter cordoned-off areas
- Report any hazards or dangers to on-site staff
There is no confirmed timeline for when all the material will be removed.
All costs of the operation are being carefully collated, and agencies are working closely with the shipping company’s insurers to ensure that all recoverable costs are claimed.
For more information on the clear-up visit: Shipping containers clean-up
