thoughts of the sea

A quiet, peaceful sea, lapping onto the beach at the Sands O Wright.

Just a few days ago it looked very different and the storm and extremely rough seas in the Pentland Firth on Saturday resulted in containers being washed off a freighter. News reports recorded ten 40' containers lost. The number is now thought to have been 33.

The Dutch freighter, Francisca, was travelling from Iceland to Rotterdam when it was caught in the storm. 32 of its containers were empty. So far, two of them have been pictured washed up on Hoy, battered and in pieces.

Here, the coastguard and local folk, have been busy clearing the plastic containers washing ashore. I found only half a dozen - photo in extra - but no doubt the next rough sea will bring in more.

Although these packets of white powder look somewhat suspicious, I read that it is nicotine. Still, not something you want children to come across and investigate. Collected along with a carrier bag full of pieces of nylon rope, they are now safely in the bin.

If there can be a positive note in all this, (and I certainly felt in need of one, after reading articles about the number of containers washed overboard every year), it is that scientists have been able to use the information gathered as they track all kinds of flotsam and jetsam to increase our understanding of the currents and tides of the world's oceans.