Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Coastguard Press Release 14/11
"At 8.00 a.m. this morning a member of the public alerted Dover Coastguard to large quantities of timber washing up on local beaches.
Overnight the Coastguard had attempted to recover the timber at sea, but this morning it became apparent that large quantities of timber had washed up on beaches stretching from Hastings to Deal.
The origin of the timber is currently unknown, but it is thought that it may have come from the vessel ‘Bothnia Stone’. This vessel developed a 40 degree list and suffered from engine failure on the 25th October 2002 whilst halfway between France and the UK. Approximately 1500 cubic meters of the vessel’s timber cargo were jettisoned into the sea at the time in order to correct the list, and the vessel was escorted to Torbay by the Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel FAR SKY and the Torbay and Plymouth Lifeboat.
Members of the public are advised that all timber recoveries, no matter how big or small, must, by law, be reported to the Receiver of Wreck at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
All local Coastguard teams are patrolling the affected area and members of the public can obtain a Report of Wreck form either from the Coastguard or by calling the Receiver of Wreck on 023 8032 9476.
Alison Kentuck, Deputy Receiver of Wreck said:
“ Members of the public are not committing an offence by recovering timber from the beaches, provided that its recovery is reported to the Receiver of Wreck. This is a simple process which benefits both owner and finder by allowing the legal owner of the timber to have their property returned if so desired and ensuring that legitimate salvors receive a salvage award if appropriate.”
"At 8.00 a.m. this morning a member of the public alerted Dover Coastguard to large quantities of timber washing up on local beaches.
Overnight the Coastguard had attempted to recover the timber at sea, but this morning it became apparent that large quantities of timber had washed up on beaches stretching from Hastings to Deal.
The origin of the timber is currently unknown, but it is thought that it may have come from the vessel ‘Bothnia Stone’. This vessel developed a 40 degree list and suffered from engine failure on the 25th October 2002 whilst halfway between France and the UK. Approximately 1500 cubic meters of the vessel’s timber cargo were jettisoned into the sea at the time in order to correct the list, and the vessel was escorted to Torbay by the Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel FAR SKY and the Torbay and Plymouth Lifeboat.
Members of the public are advised that all timber recoveries, no matter how big or small, must, by law, be reported to the Receiver of Wreck at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
All local Coastguard teams are patrolling the affected area and members of the public can obtain a Report of Wreck form either from the Coastguard or by calling the Receiver of Wreck on 023 8032 9476.
Alison Kentuck, Deputy Receiver of Wreck said:
“ Members of the public are not committing an offence by recovering timber from the beaches, provided that its recovery is reported to the Receiver of Wreck. This is a simple process which benefits both owner and finder by allowing the legal owner of the timber to have their property returned if so desired and ensuring that legitimate salvors receive a salvage award if appropriate.”
