Duck Overboard

Duck Overboard

In January 1992 a stupendous storm washed three containers off a ship that was bound from Hong Kong to Tacoma, Washington in the United States.

One container spilled its contents into the sea. No less than 29,000 plastic bath toys. After falling overboard, the sea water corroded the card-packaging and the plastic yellow ducks, blue turtles and green frogs broke free and began to float.

Since then the toys have spread out in many different directions. Some floating over the site where the Titanic sank, some landing in Hawaii and others even spending years frozen in an Arctic ice pack. They have landed on beaches in Indonesia, Australia, Japan, South America and North America and some have even been found fifteen years later and 17,000 kilometres away on the shores of Great Britain.
While the ducks are undoubtedly a loss to the bath-time fun of thousands of children, their adventures at sea have proved an invaluable aid to science. The toys have helped researchers to chart the great ocean currents because when they are spotted bobbing on the waves, they are much more likely to be reported to the authorities than the floats which scientists normally use. And because the toys are made of durable plastic and are sealed watertight, they have been able to survive years adrift at the mercy of the elements.
Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an American oceanographer has been tracking the floating plastic ducks around the world's oceans. He saw immediately how valuable the little toys would be to scientific research of the great ocean currents, the engine of the planet's entire climate.

Mr Ebbesmeyer said the toys are easy for beachcombers to spot because they have largely faded to white and have the words "The First Years" stamped upon them. So precious to science are they that the US firm that made them is offering a $100 reward for finding one.