Containers Galore

[Simon B]

So who actually owns the containers washing up on the beach in Portland bay. I had heard a "law" that said anything between high and low water on the beach was common property. Above is land below is still the sea.

[Hightower]

There's one with BMW motorcycles in

[matt h]

the container witth Motorcycles in are all mine!!! if you find one, please deliver it to me!!

[codprawn]

Branscombe Police's Pc Steve Speariett said "a couple of hundred people" were on the beach on Sunday night with the same number again scavenging on Monday.

"Around 50 BMW motorbikes were carried off the beach last night," he added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6287457.stm

[DJL]

Originally Posted by Simon B

I had heard a "law" that said anything between high and low water on the beach was common property. Above is land below is still the sea.

Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, any wreck (includes anything washed ashore from tidal waters) must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck before you have salvage rights. The RW then determines whether you can hold onto it not.

If you don't report your find, you forfeit your claim, plus you can be fined, or have to pay twice what it’s worth or something like that.

I think I heard on the news that the Police were handing out forms for 'salvagers' to fill in.

Just read codprawns BBC link:
"They were also handing out forms so people could report what they had taken to the Receiver of Wreck. This must be done within 28 days, otherwise they are committing an offence. "

[Aidan]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Branscombe Police's Pc Steve Speariett said "a couple of hundred people" were on the beach on Sunday night with the same number again scavenging on Monday.

"Around 50 BMW motorbikes were carried off the beach last night," he added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6287457.stm

That a Fact? TAXI, I said TAXI, lyme bay please and hurry!

[wavecrosschris]

some of the containers are carrying families personal belongings who are moving house abroad etc - I can understand why they are stopping people going down and thieving what they will from the shore. One bloke on the TV was interviewed and said - 'well, they're insured aren't they?' - I hope he is... what goes around...!

[vince]

I bet most were after the barrels of wine that fell overboard! Roll out the barrels and all that...

[PeterR]

Originally Posted by wavecrosschris

some of the containers are carrying families personal belongings who are moving house abroad etc - I can understand why they are stopping people going down and thieving what they will from the shore. One bloke on the TV was interviewed and said - 'well, they're insured aren't they?' - I hope he is... what goes around...!

I can understand where your comimg from and agree with you about theft and i,m sure a lot of the poeple there will not carry out the proper proceedures required.

[wavecrosschris]

Yeah, I'm not saying for a second if I found a single container bobbing around off the coast or found one washed up I wouldn't try to claim salvage on it if I was the first person on the scene - finders keepers benefits should apply to an extent (whatever legally these are) - but this case is different, it's a ship that is continually spewing a load overboard right next to a beach full of people because the coast guard couldn't get it to a controlled environment in time and unload it - I think the first few people down there, were quick and lucky - like with the motor bikes, then good luck to them! but people travelling from allover the country to go nick stuff out of endless containers starts to take the mickey a bit - Although they're helping with the clean up, I'd be gutted if my personal belongings were in a container and being picked off the beach by scavengers! - I know this sort of stuff has gone on for hundreds of years when ships were wrecked but it's kind of odd to see hundreds of people acting in such a way in 2007! ... though not suprising!