What happens when no one wants the contents? There is a bit of an underworld going on in terms of salvage and resale of goods.
Most shipping lines and claims managers work regularly with a salvage company, which will take a look and agree a price for the contents.
“We do what we can to make sure we don’t end up with the contents,” says a shipping line import manager. He lists toys, garden furniture, sweets, sleeping bags, refuse sacks, chicken coups, clothing, bricks, bikes and slates among commodities salvaged over the years. “Dumping at a local tip requires a licence and huge local costs, which we would be liable for. For most shipping lines, it is better to sell the contents to a salvage company at a low price [usually enough to cover outstanding shipping/storage costs] than face the costs of dealing with the stuff.”
From there, the abandoned cargoes could end up on a market stall, in a bargain shop or even on e-Bay.
Illegal shipments seized by customs, port health or trading standards authorities are less straightforward. “We would work extremely closely with customs and the port to limit our liability in these situations. If customs seizes a container, then up to the point of seizure we pay as the line. So if it has gone past the rent-free period in port, then we can lose out with very little chance of chasing the importer or shipper for any money.
“When we have an illegally smuggled box of cigarettes, for example, you can imagine my reluctance to chase the importer: ‘Please sir, regarding that £1m worth of container you have just had seized, please can you pay me £1,000 rent?’ Not going to happen – I don’t know many nice smugglers.”
In such a case, the shipping line generally gets the container back, once the authorities have finished with it. “However, the authorities deem the container as part of the smuggling process, so I guess we are lucky to get it back at all.”
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