The work followed the wash‑up of debris from the Liberian‑flagged refrigerated vessel Lombok Strait during Storm Goretti earlier this year. Figures released by Briggs Marine demonstrates the scale of the manual recovery effort and the environmental protections applied across numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

While the arrival of thousands of loose onions initially caught public attention, the principal environmental concern was the insulation material and structural components from several damaged refrigerated containers, which posed a significant long-term risk to sensitive coastal habitats.

Manual Recovery Across Protected Shorelines
Due to the high environmental designation of the affected beaches, no mechanical handling was permitted. This requirement shaped the entire methodology of the operation, forcing crews to work entirely on foot across rocky, uneven terrain.

Briggs Marine teams collectively covered an estimated 203 kilometres, averaging 8 km and around 12,000 steps per operator per day as they carried debris by hand to designated access points. At many locations, heavy metal container sections were expertly handled by our team on site to enable safe manual transport without disturbing the shoreline.

Debris Recovered
Across multiple coastal sites between Eastbourne, Seaford and Rottingdean, Briggs Marine recovered:

• 70 m³ of insulation foam (143 bags)
• 13.4 tonnes of onions (670 bags at roughly 20 kg each)
• Large reefer container components equivalent to 4 complete containers

Protecting Sensitive Habitats
Insulation foam from refrigerated containers presents a particular environmental hazard due to its tendency to break down into harmful micro-particles. Preventing this material from dispersing further across SSSI sites was a priority from day one.

Collaboration & Community Confidence
Briggs Marine worked alongside HM Coastguard, local authorities, partner contractors and community volunteers throughout the response. They also worked closely with the Environment Agency to ensure all activity met the strict requirements associated with operating across multiple SSSI-designated coastlines. Ahead of any work taking place, the Environment Agency reviewed and approved Briggs’ detailed methodologies, providing an additional layer of environmental assurance and reinforcing confidence that every stage of the recovery was carried out in full compliance with regulatory expectations.

Completion surveys have now been conducted on much of the affected coast, to the satisfaction of the relevant authorities.

About Briggs Marine
Briggs Marine is a leading provider of marine and environmental services, specialising in port and marine operations, subsea and environmental support and vessel charter. The family-owned and operated company has over 50 years’ experience in offering clients’ comprehensive solutions to minimise risk exposure and gain competitive edge. By leveraging its successful track record across the full spectrum of marine operations, Briggs Marine enables its customers to focus on and achieve their own strategic goals.