BRANSCOMBE, DEVON UK (21 Jan 2007) -- A team of salvage experts was last night attempting to avert an environmental disaster as a stricken container ship threatened to break in half just a mile from a heritage coastline. An estimated 200 containers, some carrying toxic substances, had fallen from the MSC Napoli into the sea off the Devon coast by yesterday afternoon. There are concerns that the ship may not be able to withstand a deterioration in weather that is forecast today. The ship, which was caught up in fierce storms on Thursday, has severe structural damage and was deliberately beached to prevent her and her cargo sinking in deep water. The fuel tanks contain 3,500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and diesel and the cargo includes 157 containers that are holding toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and pesticides. Containers began to topple off the Napoli on Saturday night and early yesterday morning as rough seas caused her to list at up to 35 degrees. Salvage specialists boarded the vessel yesterday in calmer weather to assess the damage and make preparations for the removal of the oil and cargo. The Napoli has cracks around her hull and the decision was taken on Saturday to run her aground off Branscombe, Devon. Environmentalists questioned last night whether the container ship should have been at sea at all because, they said, she had required extensive repairs in Vietnam after striking a coral reef in South East Asia in 2001. Melissa Moore, policy officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said: "If the vessel had been properly constructed and maintained it should not have suffered structural defects, despite the storm conditions last week, so something has gone wrong in either the design, repair or maintenance of this vessel. "Most likely this is due to its previous damage, which was either not properly repaired or was so substantial the vessel was irreparable." The ship, which measures 276 metres (900 feet) and is carrying 2,394 containers, was abandoned by its crew 40 miles (65km) south of The Lizard, Cornwall, on Thursday morning when the vessel was holed and the engine room flooded in the midst of 40-foot waves and 75mph winds. Of the 200 containers lost overboard, three are thought to hold toxic substances, including sulphuric acid. Some were still floating in the sea yesterday but many of the containers, which held cars, BMW motorbikes, spare parts, vehicle airbags, wine, clothing and domestic appliances, were washed up on the shore. At least two containers, one of which was said to hold four luxury Mercedes cars, are thought to have been opened before police arrived. Thousands of residents and tourists who flocked to the coast were told to leave on safety grounds. Among the debris that was washed up on Branscombe Beach from 20 containers that split in the sea were a tractor, boxes of perfume and wine barrels. Police closed the beach to prevent looting. | | Listing up to 35 degrees, the grounded container ship Napoli has already spilled more than 200 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the sea. Sergeant Alan Mobbs, of Avon and Somerset Police, said that hundreds of people had turned up to collect "souvenirs" from the wreckage. "All sorts of things have been turning up," he said." Of particular interest were wine barrels full of alcohol and bottles of perfume. But people are taking anything they can get their hands on. Tug boats attached lines to the Napoli and were towing her to Portland, but the ship was beached in Lyme Bay when it was realised that she would sink before reaching port. Despite the concerns about the chemicals on board the vessel, the immediate worry surrounded her 3,500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and diesel. At least 200 tonnes is thought to have leaked from the ship so far. But if the vessel breaks up the fuel tanks could be ruptured, causing potentially devastating contamination. A floating boom was put in place around the Napoli to prevent spilt oil from spreading, but it had to be removed after the containers fell off the ship. A team of salvagers went aboard the Napoli to remove the oil. They fitted pumps and pipes and hope to begin extracting it today (Monday). The contents of the containers remain the property of the original owners, but people who report their finds may be entitled to a salvage award, said Sophia Exelby, the Receiver of Wreck. The Napoli is 16 years old and weighs 53,000 tonnes. SOURCE - Irish Independent |
