THE IRISH Coast Guard yesterday issued a navigation warning to all shipping after a ship lost seven containers in stormy seas off the south east coast while en route from Dublin to Cork.
The 9,500 tonnes coaster, BG Dublin was on the last leg of its scheduled weekly service from Rotterdam to Dublin and on to Cork when some seven containers went overboard some 15 miles south of Tramore in Co Waterford.
According to Declan Geoghegan of the Coast Guard, winds hitting Force 9 and Force 10 resulted in swells of over 30 feet in the area and the containers went overboard from the 141 metre long ship just after 2pm yesterday.
One of the containers held sodium bromate which is used in dyeing and is a hazardous material. But it is soluble in water so initial concerns that it might lead to a pollution incident abated.
The biggest concern was that the containers would either remain buoyant or partially submerged, thus creating a navigational hazard for other shipping in the area.
The Coast Guard dispatched its Waterford-based Sikorsky S61N helicopter to search for the containers.
The helicopter crew spotted three of them at about 4.30pm sinking near where they had been reported washed overboard.
“Hopefully the other four have also sunk as they can be particularly dangerous if they’re partially submerged or just under the surface as other ships can’t see them,” Mr Geoghegan said.
He added that the Coast Guard would resume a search at first light today.
The Naval Service also dispatched three ships to the area to assist in the monitoring operation with the LE Orla, the LE Niamh and the LE Emer remaining on standby to assist if required.
In February 2008, the LE Eithne was deployed to sink a container which had drifted up towards Kerry after breaking loose from the 12,887 tonne cargo ship, MV Horncliff some 225 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly.
The BG Dublin, which is a feeder container ship delivering from Rotterdam, was expected to dock at Tivoli in Cork later last night.