Containers lost off Isle of Wight non-hazardous, says coastguard

The contents of 24 containers, which fell into the sea from two cargo vessels off the Isle of Wight on Thursday during Storm Goretti, were non-hazardous, the coastguard has confirmed.

One vessel lost 17 containers near the Nab Tower and seven containers fell from a second vessel south of St Catherine's Point just before midnight, according to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).

It said a fixed-wing coastguard aircraft spent Saturday carrying out further searches.

Up to seven containers from the first vessel have been identified floating south-east of the Isle of Wight, while the containers from the second vessel are believed to have sunk, said the MCA.