Nappies and surgical masks have washed up on beaches after a vessel lost dozens of shipping containers overboard in rough seas.
Boaters were warned to watch out for potential hazards after 83 shipping containers were lost in the waters off the coast of Newcastle, north of Sydney.
The 268-metre long, 50,000 tonne YM Efficiency was on a routine journey from Kaohsiung in Taiwan to Sydney’s Port Botany on Thursday night when the fully loaded ship encountered wild seas and was hit by a five metre wave.
A further 30 containers on board the Liberian-registered ship were badly damaged.
Fishermen and beachgoers have been warned to stay out of the water after 83 shipping containers fell from a container ship on Friday
A further 30 containers on board the ship were badly damaged (pictured)
While there are no hazardous materials reported inside the lost containers, they are a risk to other ships, fisherman and beachgoers.
A helicopter scoured the coastline on Saturday for the 40-foot containers while nappies, surgical masks and plastic containers are among the first debris to wash up on Jimmys Beach and Rocky Point.
Two containers were spotted about 100 metres off Fingal Head and Boondelbah Island, near Port Stephens, while sections of another container were found on rocks at Yacaaba Headland.
Boat captains between Sydney and Port Stephens were urged via marine radio to be on a ‘sharp look out’ for ’40-foot containers at sea and on shore’.
The ship was operated by the Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation.
A spokeswoman said there were no dangerous goods or contaminants inside.
‘There is no security concern about the condition of the vessel,’ she told AAP.
‘As for the containers … Yang Ming will inform the customers and discuss with P & I (insurers) for follow-up.’
Roads and Maritime Service executive director Angus Mitchell has cautioned anyone from going into the water until a clean up is completed.
‘A full manifest of the cargo on board the vessel, and the condition of the vessel, is being sought,’ he said.
‘It’s now the vessel operator’s responsibility to recover and remove the 40-foot containers.’
The YM Efficiency was travelling to Sydney from Taiwan when it was hit by a five metre wave in heavy swell 30 kilometres off the coast
Boat captains from Sydney to Port Stephens were warned via marine radio to watch out for potential hazards and derbis (pictured)
Fingal Bay residents spotted the stricken ship trying desperately to seek shelter in calmer waters on Friday.
‘We watched it for three quarters of an hour and we could see it was having trouble,’ Alan Phillips told 9 News.
Dave Pollard added: ‘It was fairly erratic for such a big ship to turn that fast. I’d never seen a ship do that.’
There were no reports of injuries on board the ship.
The ship is located 12 nautical miles off the coast, the ABC reported on Saturday.
It’s not expected to dock until Sunday, as authorities wait for improved weather.
Reports of container sightings can be made by calling triple-0 or the AMSA reporting hotline on 1800 641 792.
Debris has been washing up on the NSW coastline since the incident at sea