Missing containers no longer considered to be a potential shipping hazard
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More than 30 shipping containers remain unaccounted for after they were lost from a vessel in the Pentland Firth in stormy conditions at the weekend. The missing items are no longer considered to be a potential hazard to shipping.
Thirty-three containers are believed to have come off the Francisca on Saturday, prompting a search by HM Coastguard. Two of the 40ft units were washed ashore on the south of Hoy in Orkney.
Initially it was reported that only 10 containers had been involved, and that they had all been empty. In fact some contained goods including medical supplies and nicotine patches.
A spokesman at Shetland Coastguard said: "Like any search and rescue operation, information-gathering is an ongoing process. Sometimes what we are told early on changes as the incident progresses.
"It transpired that there were 33 containers. Most of them were indeed empty. Some contained some items."
"Items have been washed ashore but nothing of value.
"We have no information that they are still a potential hazard to shipping.
"There is no further search for them now. Empty containers will do the same as what a vessel will do with a hole in the side of it – they will sink."
The emergency towing vessel Ievoli Black acted as a guard vessel in the Pentland Firth for a time, and the Northern Lighthouse Board assisted with the search. A coastguard aircraft also checked the area.
The spokesman added: "The coastguard operation is not ongoing now. It's now in the hands of the salvage companies."
Members of the public are urged to keep well clear of any containers washed up ashore for their own safety.
