Every country has its traditions.

Here in England, we’re known for our afternoon teas, being painfully polite and always talking about the weather… But did you know that fish and chips on the beach is another great British tradition? No matter which seaside town you go to, you’ll find a “Harry Ramsdens” or a “Kiosk Chippy” right there on the promenade. You can’t beat a steamy hot cod and chips on the sea front on a chilly winter afternoon… (Mushy Peas and or Curry Sauce optional of course)

But this past week, the idea of chips on the beach took on a whole other meaning. Walkers on Falling Sands beach in East Sussex were surprised to find their usually sandy beach covered in uncooked chips! Literally tens of thousands of them, some in bags, many just loose across the beach…

Why? I’ll give you one guess… a container gone overboard in the English Channel. It seems that the chips (as well as facemasks, onions, polystyrene and plastic bags) were a sad casualty of a bad storm and strong tides that took 20 containers overboard not far off the coast. Now, a beach covered in uncooked chips is not a common occurrence…but do you know what is? Cargo lost overboard.

As freight forwarders, we can do everything within our power to ensure your cargo travels safely from one corner of the world to another. We can carefully choose freight routes, vet suppliers, help you package your cargo protectively and keep your paperwork perfectly organised… but what we can’t do is control the ocean. Every year, around 1200 containers get lost at sea. It’s not anyone’s fault. It can’t be helped. It’s just a part of the risk of transporting things across the ocean – mother nature can’t be controlled. But what you can do is get freight insurance.

Many people don’t know your standard freight rates don’t always include insurance – so if you don’t buy it separately, you’re putting yourself at risk. It’s not just containers going overboard that can cause problems… the blockage on the Suez Canal was totally unpredictable and caused billions of dollars of goods to be delayed, ruined or abandoned. The Baltimore Bridge accident is another example with estimated $2-4 billion of cargo impacted.

Now, this isn’t an email trying to sell you my cargo insurance, but a friendly (and fun, chip-related) reminder that the sea is a changing beast. So be prepared… Speak to your freight provider, get a quote online or speak to us…whatever floats your boat. But do something… because no one can predict what will happen next!

What about you? Have you ever found anything weird and wonderful washed up on your beaches? I’d love to hear your stories…