From the BBC report http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7198735.stm

"Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, it is both an offence to conceal or keep possession of such cargo, or to fail to report the cargo.

The MCA has warned that anyone who keeps the washed-up timber from the Ice Prince could be arrested and fined up to £2,500."

more from the same article

"West Sussex County Council has issued an urgent plea to mariners, windsurfers and canoeists because of concerns that the floating wood could cause a serious accident.

Windsurfers have also been criticised for pursuing their sport among the huge timber planks lost overboard from the ship. We think it is madness to go windsurfing among all this wood," said Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesman Mark Clark, who added that people were causing "quite a lot of problems"."

Great Quote that...
"people were causing "quite a lot of problems"".

Its those darn people trying to enjoy the sea as normal and helping to clear the beaches, not the 1000's of tons of wood that has been dumped on our coast.

Gareth