Plans for clearing up timber washed ashore from the stricken cargo ship Kodima off Cornwall are under way.
Large amounts of Swedish pine planking have already been taken by members of the public from Whitsand Bay, near Plymouth, where the Maltese-registered vessel ran aground during gales.
The ship’s insurer, Skuld Oslo, is trying to arrange removal of what’s left, but says access to the bay is difficult.
The Kodima was carrying 10,000m³ of pine from Sweden to Libya when she ran into trouble. About 3,500m³ of timber lashed on deck was swept overboard, with cargo also escaping from a hold.
Much of the pine came from Gothenberg-based AB Tralga and was loaded at Norrköping.
Nicholas Brown, spokesperson for the Antwerp-based ship manager Inok NV, said a lot of the timber was reduced to ‘matchwood’ by the ferocious weather. He said cargo ownership was not yet established though the 6,000 tonne ship had been chartered to deliver to Libyan customers.
He added that it was not illegal for people to take the timber, provided the Receiver of Wrecks was notified.
