Pine measuring 4-5m-long has been reported between the Isle of Wight and Brighton in recent weeks but all attempts so far to trace the ship which spilled the wood have proved fruitless.
When first reported before Christmas, Solent Coastguard found timber spread out across 400 square miles of sea. Enquiries were made with vessel traffic services in Southampton and further east to Shoreham but no craft was identified.
The Argus newspaper has reported wood washed ashore around west Worthing and as far as Hove. People have been recovering the wood from beaches, with some reportedly loading up vans.
“We remain puzzled as to the source of this extensive amount of timber,” said Dave Williams of Solent Coastguard.
Coastguard personnel have been issuing Receiver of Wreck forms to people taking timber.
“It’s strange that nobody has come forward and said the timber is theirs,” an MCA spokesperson said.
A larger timber spill involving 4,000m3 of Swedish pine occurred in Cornwall in 2002 when the timber carrier Kodima ran aground.
