There are fears that shipping containers which could be full of nappies or other sanitary products could wash up on the Welsh coast after a number of them went missing.
A ship carrying 11 containers spilled the 40ft long units overboard and into the Bristol Channel last week.
Three have been found in the sea, while one has washed up in Bucks Mills beach in Devon containing nappies and other sanitary products.
The incident happened on Tuesday, October 20, and while seven of the containers were empty, the other four were not.
The coastguard said three of the containers might have sunk, but that one or more might wash ashore in Wales, in the Porthcawl area.
A spokesperson from the Maritime Coastguard Agency said: “Just before 4.30pm on October 20, HM Coastguard received a report from a vessel that 11 shipping containers (seven empty and four containing non-hazardous cargoes) were adrift in the sea off Land’s End.
“The relevant organisations were alerted, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Counter Pollution Officer, Trinity House and the ship’s insurers, and they all remain actively involved in this incident.
“Our specialist fixed-wing aircraft carried out an overflight of the area on Friday and it is believed that three of the containers may now have sunk.
“The remaining containers continue to be monitored, the nearest to land is currently 10nm (nautical miles). Local shipping alerts are being issued by HM Coastguard to advise other vessel traffic in the area. Contingency arrangements are underway for container recovery.”
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Bridgend Council’s cabinet member for communities, Richard Young, told the BBC: “Given the limited movement of people during the current pandemic lockdown, it is less likely that the containers will be spotted by members of the public.
“But in the event that you do see one of them, please do not approach it - contact the authorities as soon as possible so that arrangements can be put in place for its safe retrieval.”
