Medlar on 23/1/2007 at 10:20

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Fabulous on going story of the Devon folk picking up the Cornish wrecking habit....

As dawn broke over the steeply shelving shingle banks of Branscombe beach in South Devon yesterday, a motley procession of figures emerged from the gloom, struggling with heavy loads.

One was bowed under a complete stainless steel car exhaust system, another clutched a brand new headlight housing for a BMW. A man struggled with two large bin bags of disposable nappies, while others dragged sacks of shoes and perfume. A tractor laden with car gearboxes, two large oak barrels and a silver BMW motorcycle made its way up the beach. Not since Whisky Galore has there been such a scramble for salvage. The procession continued through the day as though carried by a column of ants.

The great Devon takeaway began when 105 containers were washed off a stricken cargo ship run aground on a shingle bank a mile offshore. About 40 washed ashore at Branscombe, where they broke open in the waves and deposited their contents on the beach.

The MSC Napoli’s cargo would put a hypermarket to shame. The containers, loaded in Antwerp and destined for ports around the world, contained motorcycles, cars, tractors, veterinary supplies, toys, Polish bibles, televisions, cosmetics, thousands of children’s plastic bowls and clothing. Debris littered the shore as far as the eye could see.

(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2560705,00.html) Full story

Shadow Creepr on 23/1/2007 at 11:20

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I didn't know about the law on salvage. I'm surprised it wasn't covered in (http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp?FO=1159966&Action=Book&From=SearchResults&ProductID=0113413025) my test study guide.

From the article:

The law on salvage


People who salvage goods from a wreck have common law right to a reward in return for their booty, unlike those who loot an overturned lorry on the highway

Under maritime law, they are regarded as removing the wrecked goods for protection and safekeeping and are rewarded for that

An individual who finds goods must make a report to the Receiver of Wreck within 28 days

Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 it is not a crime to recover jetsam (items washed up by the sea) but it is illegal to fail to declare it or refuse to surrender it when asked

Anyone who does not return the goods after being asked to do so can be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500

I feel for the people who have had their items taken. As someone who has has shipped lots of boxes overseas, it is nerve-racking enough waiting for everything to arrive, much less having items damaged or missing (15% damage in my case). I know people who have used those type of containers to ship their goods and they were lucky enough to receive them, even though it took six months by sea.

dlw6 on 23/1/2007 at 11:25

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@ShadowCreeper: Intreresting, thanks for sharing that.

I guess the insurance will pay the shippers' losses, the premiums will go up, and retail goods will get slightly more expensive.

Don

D'Juhn Keep on 23/1/2007 at 13:51

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Could you pick me up a beer barrel please Medlar, they look cool. :D

OnionBob on 23/1/2007 at 16:07

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No, it is illegal. It still belongs to its original owners. It's called Theft by Finding. There's a bunch of paperwork that needs to be filled in to enable them to register that they found it, and it will only belong to them if it's not claimed after a certain period of time.

Where do people think this stuff comes from? The sky? It belongs to someone. Imagine if a truck carrying 52" plasma TVs overturned on the road. Would motorists be justified just picking shit up and carrying it off?

Anyway it's not the fetish and bickering of private property ownership that bothers me but the savage greed that always emerges in situations like this. OHGgmgmg FREE STUFF OH GOD STUFF?? I LOVE STUFF IT IS WHAT I NEED TO MAKE MY LIFE BETTER OH GOD WHAT TIME IS RELOCAT ION RELOCATION ON WHAT IS MY HOUSE WORTH and my life