Cruise ship departure delayed by a day after bananas fall overboard | EUROtoday

A cruise ship was pressured to delay its departure after delivery containers bananas fell into the ocean.

Sixteen containers fell from a cargo ship close to the Nab tower lighthouse off Bembridge, Isle of Wight, at round 6pm on Saturday. Eight of them have been carrying bananas, two held plantain and one contained avocados.

It meant that P&O Cruises ship Iona, which has a capability of 5,200 passengers, was caught in port at Southampton and needed to delay its departure till Sunday afternoon.

A HM Coastguard spokesperson instructed The Independent: “HM Coastguard is continuing to work with the relevant authorities after 16 containers went overboard from the cargo ship Baltic Kipper in the Solent on 6 December.

“This includes working with the vessel’s owners who are responsible for recovering the containers.

“Eight of the containers were reported as carrying bananas, two as carrying plantain, one as carrying avocados, and the remaining five as empty.

“Two containers have come ashore at Selsey, where a cordon has been put in place. Coastguard rescue teams from Selsey and Littlehampton, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and Sussex Police are all in attendance.”

“The public are advised to avoid the area and are reminded that all wreck material found in the UK has to be reported to HM Coastguard’s Receiver of Wreck.

“Those who fail to declare items within 28 days are breaking the law and may have further action taken against them.”

Passengers on the cruise ship have been certain for a 14-day journey to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands, which was on account of set sail on Saturday.

A spokesperson stated the ship remained in Southampton in a single day following the lack of containers and would stay there till they have been discovered.

On Sunday, a P&O Cruises spokesperson instructed The Independent that Iona was given clearance to sail.