Why do onions and chips keep washing up on England's south coast? Here's the science

Why do onions and chips keep washing up on England's south coast? Here's the science

Over Christmas, vegetables, bananas and insulation foam washed up on beaches along England's southeast coast. They were from 16 containers spilled by the cargo ship Baltic Klipper in rough seas. In the new year, a further 24 containers fell from two vessels during Storm Goretti, with chips and onions among the goods appearing on the Sussex shoreline.

Southern England Beaches Battered By Banana Carnage and Massive Chip Wreck

On December 6, 2025, beaches in the county of Sussex on the southern coast of England were battered by barrages of bananas. Tons of bananas washed ashore at Selsey, Bognor Regis, and Pagham Harbour in West Sussex. Some also washed further inland, making a slippery mess on coastal roads. Where did the yellow tide come from? 16 shipping containers fell off the cargo ship Baltic Klipper near the Isle of Wight. Eight of the lost containers were fill…