When storm Pia ravaged both Denmark and Norway before Christmas, the shipping giant Mærsk had to take some of the brunt. Over 40 enormous containers were washed out to sea, containing both shoes, refrigerators and needles, according to Danmarks Radio. Some of the containers and their contents have washed ashore in Denmark. Others are still out at sea. It creates trouble for Danish fishermen who are going to fish for New Year’s cod, according to the channel. – Our ships are thin, light ships, and cannot withstand crashing into a container, which corresponds to a reef, says chairman Thomas Højrup of Thorupstrand Kystfiskerlaug to DR. The clean-up of the trash on the beach has begun. Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen / Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters Norwegian fishermen worried Leader Terje Eriksen of Southern Norway’s Fishing Association does not think the containers and their contents will wash up on Norwegian beaches anytime soon. Nevertheless, they can create trouble for all forms of ship traffic if they remain in the North Sea, he says. – A 40-foot container is very large, it can be quite critical if a boat goes on it. It is generally very worrying to have lots of containers in the sea. It is not the first time it has happened, and it has largely gone well, but they are there as an obstacle in the sea. Spectators have taken the trip to the beach to look at the large containers that have drifted ashore. Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen / Ritzau Scanpix/AFP According to Eriksen, containers on deviations can damage fishing boats and equipment. – Some sink, some float ashore, and it is arbitrary where they end up. When they sink to the bottom, it becomes challenging for those who fish on the seabed. The tools can get stuck in the containers, says Eriksen. Eriksen says he is also concerned about how the contents of the containers can contaminate. – We are also concerned about the content and whether it can have negative environmental effects and affect our healthy, sustainable and safe seafood, he says. It will take time before all the rubbish can be cleaned up, says coast guard Thomas Durloo to Danmarks Radio. Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen / Ritzau Scanpix/AFP The shipping company needs to clean up The containers that are now floating around in the sea also pose a major environmental risk, says marine biologist and head of the ocean team at the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature. – The rubbish from the container ship can potentially have long-term consequences for wildlife in the area. Plastic and other waste can harm everything from the smallest microscopic plankton all the way up to the largest whales. Marine biologist Fredrik Myhre in the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature. Photo: Geir Barstein / WWF World Wide Fund for Nature In addition, the rubbish that ends up in the sea remains as environmentally harmful waste for a long time, if it is not cleaned up. Myhre says the shipping company must be held responsible, and get the bill to clean up. – That way we get even better routines for the shipping companies when it comes to securing cargo. In addition, it can lead to less plastic and other environmentally hazardous waste in the sea that harms wildlife and habitats there. Will try to save containers Mærsk says in a statement that they are already in the process of cleaning up the containers, reports DR. They say they have sent a salvage vessel to the area to pick up containers still in the sea. – We have entered into an agreement with a company with expertise in locating and recovering lost containers. In addition, we are in dialogue with the beach warden to create a joint plan for the clean-up work on the beach, they write. The shipping company Mærsk has hired supply ships that are looking for the containers that are still in the sea. Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen / Ritzau Scanpix/AFP The shipping company is scheduled to have meetings with the coast guard on Wednesday. In addition, Mærsk says that they will investigate what happened when the containers were blown into the sea, and work to prevent this from happening again.
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Containers ended up in the sea during storm Pia – could be an environmental risk – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
