After losing over 40 containers at sea during the storm “Pia,” Mærsk has faced criticism. The company is now assuring a cleanup effort.
Danish beaches are still filling up with debris, such as in the city of Tranum. Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen/Ritzau Scanpix / NTBPublished: 26th December Updated 26th December
“It is important for us to emphasize that we take this situation very seriously,” says Mærsk’s safety chief, Søren Thuen, in a statement to Danmarks Radio. “It is our responsibility. We are committed to staying until everything is cleaned up and fully prepared to cover the costs associated with the cleanup,” he adds.
On Tuesday, the shipping company and local authorities held a crisis meeting to discuss the cleanup of Danish beaches.
On several beaches along the northwest coast of Jutland, everything from refrigerators to shoes and bags of medical equipment has washed ashore after a Mærsk ship lost 46 containers during the storm “Pia” on Christmas Eve.
About seven containers have drifted ashore, according to Danmarks Radio. Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen/Ritzau Scanpix / NTBFor every passing hour, it becomes increasingly difficult to remove all the garbage, writes Danish TV 2.
There is really, really a lot of plastic out there. It’s everywhere. I’ve never seen this before,” says Henrik Beha Pedersen of the organization Plastic Change to the channel. “It’s critical that it’s taking so long,” he adds.
The fishing industry in the area has also been put on hold until the wreckage is cleared. Thuen of Mærsk assures DR that the effort will increase in cooperation with local authorities.
“A joint plan has now been laid out, and starting tomorrow, contractors will arrive on several beaches, and the effort will be scaled up in the coming days,” he says.
Photo: Claus Bjørn Larsen/Ritzau Scanpix / NTBLocal authorities are encouraging anyone who can help to join the cleanup effort, and many are reported to have already assisted. At the same time, there is a warning that medical equipment, such as needles, may be present in the sand.
“Objects from the containers that wash ashore usually have an associated ownership. Therefore, it would be theft to take them. In short, leave things be,” the police emphasized to the local newspaper Nordjyske over the weekend.
It is currently unclear how long the cleanup will take. New garbage continues to flow in from the sea, the media reports.
