Swimming’s off...there’s a 1,500ft pipe in the way!
four giant pipes big enough to drive through made for incredible flotsam and jetsam – after they washed up on British beaches.
The 8ft-wide plastic bore tubes – with one more than 1,500ft long – are among 12 which broke free while being towed to Algeria.
They are now beached along the Norfolk coastline, and their Norwegian makers have warned curious tourists not to go near them.
The 1,570ft length pipe beached between Sea Palling and Wintertonon-Sea yesterday. Earlier this week, a 660ft section appeared at low tide further west at Horsey.
Pictures have shown two men walking on top of one of the tubes, some with huge red and yellow seals, as others took selfies. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said 12 sections had come loose from a tug.
Most have been reattached to other boats or safely anchored offshore.
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: ‘Dutch Marine BV supported by Marine Towing Services are working to remove the four pipes which have beached at Eccles on Sea, Sea Palling and Winterton.
‘The remaining eight pipes are under control off shore.
‘The pipes themselves are brand new and were destined for a large project in Algeria. other than their physical presence they pose no other danger of, or potential for pollution. once the four beached pipes Pipe dream: Beachgoers dwarfed by one enormous section are recovered the next phase of the is essential now that the salvage recovery operation will begin.’ He team fence off the pipes. If you fall said the pipes would be relocated to beside that while it moved you will an offshore location north of Lowesbe smashed. toft, where they will await repair ‘If you walk on the pipe and you work to prepare them for a final tow drop off it is extremely dangerous.’ back to the Norwegian manufa cturEarlier this year, thousands of ers – lasting weeks. plastic eggs washed up on the beach
Trygve Blomster, export manager of a remote island of the coast of at Pipelife, said guards had been north-east Germany. sent in to keep the public away from Excited children were seen colthe pipes. He told the Guardian: ‘It lecting them, armed with bags.
‘They pose no risk of pollution’