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THIS IS PAGE 2 -- Feature Updates

Readers Note: This Feature Has Now Moved Forward To 5 Pages:

Page 1 M/V MSC Napoli- Initial Reports - to Jan. 29

Page 2 M/V MSC Napoli - Jan. 30 To May 17 - Daily On-Scene Commentary - Container Removal Operations

Page 3 M/V MSC Napoli - Feb. 6 2007 - Presentation To The EU Parliament - Casualty Management Issues

Page 4 M/V MSC Napoli - May 18 To July 22 - Vessel Refloating Operations

Updates Below - go to the feature
18 May 2007 - All Containers Removed!

9 June 2007 - Refloating Has Begun!

8 June 2007 - Aerial Survey

8 July 2007 - Refloating Tomorrow?

9 July 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli Is Refloated - Our Air Force Is Grounded!

13 July 2007 pm - The Dream Is Lost? Grounded Again!

15 July 2007 pm - The Dream Is Lost! THE LADY WILL BE CUT IN TWO.

18 July 2007 - Even Dynamite Can't Kill M/V MSC Napoli

20 July 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli In Two

Page 5 M/V MSC Napoli - July 20-23 -The Death of M/V MSC Napoli - The Blast

25 July 2007 - Two Points of View

7 Aug. 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli In The Afterlife

18 Aug. 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli - Her End

 

 "Crack'n On The Sidmouth"

Page 2

Can M/V MSC Napoli Survive?

On The Scene In The English Channel

Feature Date: Jan. 21 to Aug. 18 2007

Event Date: January 18 2007

-- CONTINUING COVERAGE --

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"Crack'n On The Sidmouth"

On The Scene

In The English Channel

The Death of M/V MSC Napoli?

Page 2

Reports of M/V MSC Naploi Hogging

From The Cargo Letter - Jan. 30 2007 -- Container Removal Operations Begin -- With Problems
Two large cranes were being moved into position off the Devon coast to begin removing items from the stricken ship. However, the operation did not go ahead after a mooring cable snapped on a barge carrying a crane. Scavengers had previously converged on the beach to loot containers washed up after the storm-damaged vessel was deliberately run aground.

The cable will had to be fixed before the operation could go ahead and there is a question mark over whether any containers will be removed on Monday. A team of about 20 salvage operators involved, some of them divers who will go into the ship which has been flooded with water and oil.

From Our Reader - Feb. 11 2007 -- No Hogging On M/V MSC Naploi - An Error In Our Reporting

Dear Sirs,

I feel a bit obliged to contact you with respect to the figure on Page 2 (This Page) of the Crack'n On The Sidemouth feature on your interesting website. The figure in question is the one on top, presenting the crack aside M/V MSC Naploi and an explanation atop with bending in hogging as a likely cause for this crack.

Now, this proposed explanation is very much off from what might have caused the crack. The reason being that in hogging the bottom of the ship is in compression, while the deck is in tension. And if we look at the featured photographs of the damaged vessel we can see that the deck is pretty much intact, as much as it can be in this situation, but without any visible cracks on the side.

Now, the knowledge on failure of ship structures tells us that compression cannot initiate cracks and tearing of steel happens only due to shear or tension loads. Now, if the hogging would cause this large and amazing crack, it would have to obviously initiate in the deck and side connection, where actually the mutual tension and shear stresses are superimposed. And as we can see this has not occurred.

On the other hand there are several other more likely reasons which might have caused this crack, and the one most obvious would be the torsion and not the bending of the hull. All container ships suffer a bad structural trade-off by not possessing any of the decking, so to be able to load as many containers as possible. The hatch covers do not bear any loads in that sense. Now, due to this, the hull is pretty much dimensioned for torsion. In the position where the hull meets the deck house the torsional stiffness arises significantly causing the adjoined hull and deck house structure to act as a clamped support for the more flexible fore part of the hull. In this area the torsion initiates not only shear stresses but also normal stresses due to warping. Now depending on the angle of torsional deformations these normal stresses might be compressive or tensile.

Due to the operations this interaction and superposition of stresses on the bottom of the vessel could have caused fatigue damages which initiate into cracking. Also, a very inconvenient combination of loads could have also caused extreme overloading to the ship's bottom and side connection that could have caused the impressive crack. A few more repetitions of such a load could have then extended it further up to the final state that we see it now on the photos.

Taking this explanation into account, I hope that you would remove the hogging figure atop the 1st photo on the 2nd page of this website.

 Sincerely,

Alan Klanac - M.Sc. Naval Architect, Helsinki University of Technology, Ship Laboratory

Editor Note - This elegant presentation of Naval Architect Alan Klanac is no doubt correct. While the "Hogging" diagram (above) came from other Naval Architects -- there is a more important point. This dialog represents a unique opportunity for all of us to better understand concepts of naval engineering. The opportunity would not have been possible without the error & debate caused by this "Hogging" diagram. We'll keep that "Hogging" diagram posted to continue the dialog & understanding. Many thanks to Alan Klanac. Such is the modest goal of our Website. McD

Some Looting Has Continued

Including The Personal Possessions of Anita and Jan Bokdal

From The Cargo Letter - Jan. 30 2007 -- Container Removal Operations Could Take 5 Months - Post Disaster Disaster
F/V Sea Seeker & landing barge Pont Menai crashed off Lyme Regis, in Dorset, on Jan. 29 night. F/V Sea Seeker suffered extensive damage in the crash & 2 of the crew were treated for minor injuries. Pont Menai was not badly damaged -- barge was returning to port after helping to clear containers washed ashore on Branscombe Beach, Devon from M/V MSC Naploi. One fisherman was taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester with a back injury & the other was treated for head injuries at Lyme Regis before being allowe home. Crewman Simon Allman, said after being discharged from hospital: "There was a sudden bang and we all shot forward.

From Our Correspondent Ashley Black --Jan. 30 2007 -- Lest We Think They Are All Criminals

A man who scavenged the possessions of a Swedish family from stricken M/V MSC Napoli has pledged to return the booty. Michael Wheeler, from Devon, said he regretted taking a china set belonging to Anita and Jan Bokdal, saying he had been "caught up with the atmosphere". Mrs Bokdal, who saw her crate raided on TV at Branscombe beach in Devon, said she was glad it would be returned. The ship's owners say they are working "round the clock" to salvage it.

Anita Bokdal saw her container being raided on television. This had to be devistating.

"We got home and reflected on what we'd done and realised that perhaps it wasn't the right thing, morally, to be doing. "I'd like to apologise to Mrs Bokdal because, had the shoe been on the other foot, it would have been very distressing for me." Mr Wheeler said a national newspaper had intervened and agreed to send the goods on to Cape Town. Mrs Bokdal accepted the apology, saying: "I'm so glad that you have brought the things back." Mrs Bokdal, who spends half her time in South Africa, said the container had been full of irreplaceable possessions with huge sentimental value.

But UK Authorities Have Taken Strict Action

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 1 2007 -- Shore Cranes Installed To Receive Containers
Feb. 1 The first containers salvaged from M/V MSC Napoli arrived at Portland Port in Dorset in the morning of Feb 1.  The shuttle barge, carrying about 70 containers, is travelling from the ship's beached position in Lyme Bay. About 80% of the ship's fuel oil has been removed and salvors expect to remove all of it by the weekend. Two specialist cranes are being installed at the docks in Dorset in order to unload the large steel crates. Salvors have been working round the clock to remove the ship's 3,500 tons of fuel oil at rate of about 20 tons an hour. The operation to remove the containers, which started on Monday, has been helped by calm seas. Salvors held by harnesses on board the heavily-listing M/V MSC Napoli have been working to secure containers to the crane mounted on the lifting platform "Big Foot".

Two boats are now carrying out sidescan work to locate the 47 sunken containers. None have been found as yet. None are known to be floating.

M/V MSC Napoli is not in immediate danger of breaking up, the government official in charge of the salvage has said. Robin Middleton, of the Dept. for Transport, was responding to newspaper reports which said the vessel was at high risk because of hull fractures. He said the risk was lessening every day as more containers came off.

From Our Readers --Feb. 1 2007

"I do not see any discussion of the MCA (Maritime & Coastguard Agency) decision to ground the vessel off Sidmouth.

Whilst it is easy to be wise after the event, it did seem to me an extremely strange decision to ground M/V MSC Napoli in gale force conditions in order to prevent pollution??? At lest the French Coast Guard managed to remove the pollution source from their own area."

From an old sea dog

Bigfoot & Vessels Approach Their Work

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 2 2007
MSC NAPOLI State report Feb 2
The condition of the ship remains the same with the priority being the removal of oils.

3,212 tons have been removed from the ship to date.

CARGO

120 containers have been removed from the ship to date.

The number of containers lost overboard has been further revised. The count now stands at 97 -- 40 of which are presumed sunk.

The sidescan sonar has not revealed any new targets.

ENVIRONMENTAL

There have been no reports of new oil leaks from the ship.

Aerial surveillance can not identify any significant patches of oil on the sea surface.

The weather remains calm. The long range forecast shows a possible deterioration of conditions from Wednesday.

SHIPS INVOLVED --Vessels on location and being used on this salvage operation are as follows"

Argonaute, imo-9269518 AHT/Supply

Anglian Princess, imo-9242766 Coastguard tug/supplyship

Pasvik, imo-8418590 AHT/Supply with the barge "Bigfoot"

Captain Michalis, imo-7530028 AHT with the barge "Boa Barge 21"

Union Beaver, imo-8918564 Salvage vessel

Smit Bronco, imo-9345491 Multi purpose pusher tug

Forth Fisher, imo-9118159 Oil Products Tanker.

Nearly 315 Containers Removed - The Majority Await

From The British Transport Minister - Feb. 5 2007 -- Grounding Was The Rght Thing To Do
British Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman defended the deliberate grounding of the containership M/V MSC Napoli, saying the environmental damage would have been far worse if the ship had sunk in the English Channel. The decision to ground the ship off the Devon Coast rather than continue under tow to Portland in Dorset was made on Jan. 20, because severe weather conditions started to cause structural damage.

"With cracks on both side, it became clear it would not reach Portland," Ladyman told ministers of Parliament in the House of Commons. "The only viable option was to beach the ship in shallow water where there was a greater chance of successful salvage."

The coastline in which the ship now rests in Lyme Bay is part of a World Heritage Site and there are concerns about the long-term damage to the local environment caused by oil slicks and debris from containers ripped open on Branscombe beach by looters.

Ladyman added that the original choice of Portland was made because French authorities couldn't identify a place of refuge in France and other nearby U.K. ports lacked sufficient water depth.

"At worst, the entire operation -- pumping out the oil, lifting off the cargo and removing the ship itself -- could take 12 months," Ladyman said.

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 7 2007

The Big Foot barge removing containers from M/V MSC Napoli in Lyme Bay is to stay in port for at least 72 hours because of concerns about severe weather. The Bigfoot will stay at Portland because of possible swells near the wreck of M/V MSC Napoli.

Salvors are reminding people that the public no longer has any legal right to recover items from the Napoli as salvage agreements are in place. Taking is looting.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency said the decision to keep Bigfoot in port was taken on Feb. 6 in agreement with the Napoli's salvors.

Nearly 315 containers of the vessel's 2,200 have been removed so far. Months more work are expected.

Robin Middleton, the Secretary of State's Representative in Maritime Salvage and Intervention, said: "No further containers will be removed from the ship during the bad weather. He added: "It is likely that more containers will be lost from the ship during this bad weather. "Any containers that may be washed ashore will be marked and secured as soon as they arrive on the beach."

Security officers are on standby in various locations to secure containers on behalf of the Receiver of Wreck.

Mr Middleton said: "The normal arrangements in terms of recovery of wreck material through voluntary salvage do not apply because comprehensive salvage contracts have already been placed by the owners of the ship." Comprehensive salvage contracts have already been placed by the owners of the ship

He added that the oil removal operation, which is being carried out by a separate vessel, would continue as long as safety was not compromised by any weather problems.

Devon County Council said the areas that containers were likely to be washed up on if they came off the ship had been identified and that measures would be taken to prevent extraneous road traffic.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest sports events in the South West could to be postponed due to the grounding of M/V MSC Napoli. The Grizzly Run which attracts more than 2,000 people from all over Britain and abroad is scheduled for 11 March. But organisers are considering delaying it until the autumn because the race is heavily centred on Branscombe. A final decision is due this weekend. From our Correspondent Ashley Black. (Wed. Feb. 7 2007)

 Maritime & Coastguard Agency Stands By Bigfoot --

Before Unloading Operations Suspend Due To Weather Considerations On Feb. 7.

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 8 2007
People have admitted taking more than 700 items that were washed up on a Devon beach from stricken M/V MSC Napoli. The Receiver of Wreck said 11 BMW motorbikes were reported as recovered by the public. It is not known how many other items have gone unreported. McD

M/V MSC Napoli - The Result Thus Far -

-- For Lyme Bay, a World Heritage Site

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 11 2007
A small amount of cargo from M/V MSC Napoli has gone overboard in bad weather at the weekend.  About 8 bags of yellow plastic strips went into the sea in 3 meter swells but they are non-toxic and most have been collected from Lyme Bay. No more containers have been lost, says the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Cargo holds 5-7 are fully flooded, and cargo hold 4 is flooded 4-5 tiers high. The ship actually has a list of 10 degress. If weather conditions improve sufficiently on Feb 12, the giant barge Big Foot 1 being used to take containers off M/V MSC Napoli is expected to return alongside her. The barge has spent the weekend sheltering at nearby Portland. Other lost cargo from M/V MSC Napoli has appeared on beaches more than 30 miles away in Torbay. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen.

The Press Calls These "Small Scale Items"

We See This This A Specialized Cargo Gone Wrong.

This Is A Disaster For Some Company.

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 13 2007

The condition of M/V MSC Napoli remains stable and the list of the vessel remains at 10 degrees. Salvors worked onboard the vessel until 17.00 Feb 11 when adverse weather conditions caused the sea state to become too rough to bring support vessels along side. Until then the salvors had continued skimming in the engine room space and recovered 9 cubic meters of oily water totaling 15 cubic meters from the engine room. It is believed that a further 35 cubic meters of oily water consisting of Heavy fuel Oil, Diesel Oil & Lubricants is still within the engine room space. MCA Surveillance aircraft continue to undertake reconnaissance over flights. A small amount of flotsam has been recovered at sea & some debris is still coming ashore which is being cleaned up. All containers that were washed up at Branscombe beach have been removed to a working area where separation of rubbish goes on. Contractors have progressed well with the clean up of Branscombe Beach following the events which occurred after the arrival of M/V MSC Napoli. Fifty eight containers have now been disposed of and 160 tons of steel scrap have been removed & recycled. 169 tons of other waste has also been removed from beaches and has gone for licensed disposal. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen.

Containers - Or What's Left of Them Offloaded

Beach Reoprt From Ashley Black - Feb. 13 2007

Cargo from stranded M/V MSC Napoli has appeared on beaches more than 30 miles away in Torbay. Multipacks of shampoo bottles & sun visors from vehicles are among the goods that have been washed up in easterly winds. Items have been found at Watcombe, Goodrington and Broadsands beaches, as well as in Brixham Harbour.

People have reported taking more than 700 items including 11 BMW motorcycles from the ship beached at Branscombe. More than 50 containers washed ashore and 46 have been lost overboard.

Richard Clark, Torbay's emergency planning officer, said: "We're treating this as routine winter maintenance on the beaches. "We are obviously concerned that stuff is turning up, but at the moment it is just a case of going round and picking up the stuff that we can." Mr Clark said: "If containers do come off it is likely they will appear in the areas they already have, so we are fairly hopeful we are not going to get containers in Torbay. "However, we expect to get more relatively small-scale stuff." He added: "Police have a very clear plan in place which could mean closing roads and footpaths until security is put in place." From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

M/V MSC Napoli In The Background -

- Her Lifeboat Finds Land First

Photo Courtesy of Dan Bryan Photography - UK
One of M/V MSC Napoli lifeboats Washed Ashore

"Rescued" at Falmouth -- Miles Away

Now -- Can M/V MSC Napoli Herself Be Rescued?

Photo Courtesy of Dan Bryan Photography - UK
The Sad State of M/V MSC Napoli

Taken From The Cliffs at Weston Feb. 11 2007

Folks, This Vessel Is About Gone -- Can The Cargo Be Saved?

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 16 2007

There has been no noticeable change to the condition of M/V MSC Napoli during the recent stormy days and it remains stable. Eight tons of fuel was recovered from the engine room Feb 14. Containers are reported by the salvors as stable and no additional containers have been lost in the past 24 hours. The crane barge Big Foot 1 and the shuttle barge have returned alongside the vessel and are waiting for a weather window to re-commence removing containers. The sonar craft will be re-employed as soon as weather permits. The River Axe boom has been removed. Debris continues to wash up and contractors are clearing it up as it is reported. Some oil has been reported coming ashore at Burton Bradstock. More debris is expected to wash up during the predicted Spring Tides forecast for Feb 20. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen.

Shuttle Barges Wrestle Off The Containers

Photo Courtesy of Dan Bryan Photography - UK

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 19 2007

The list of M/V MSC Napoli has reduced to 8 degrees easing the recovery of containers. Work to recover the remaining oil from the ship is progressing well. Clear water is showing up during the oil recovery, a sign that that oil coverage has reduced. There have been no further losses of containers. 553 containers have been discharged to date. 293 containers remain on deck. All beached containers have now been removed. Access has been opened up on affected beaches, although areas around heavy machinery remain closed because of health and safety. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen.

From the MSC Napoli Response Centre - Feb. 21 2007 - Here comes M/V MSC Grace

SEAWARD

The weather forecast today is reasonable, although unsettled weather is expected tomorrow afternoon and evening.

Naval Architects, appointed by the vessel owners, inspected the M/V MSC Napoli at low tide yesterday to assess the condition of the vessel. Options that the consultants will be considering include refloating the vessel to tow away, and cutting the vessel up in situ for removal by barge.

There has been no change to M/V MSC Napoli 's condition.

The salvage crew are continuing to skim oil from water in the engine room and Number 6 Hold.

The tanks containing marine diesel oil in the engine room are being pumped today. They contain approximately 45 tons. There are pockets of oil on board which will be skimmed as and when they are encountered.

48 containers were removed safely yesterday, which included one that contained acids. The crane barge, Big Foot, and the shuttle barge, are discharging 185 containers to Portland Port today. Big Foot is due to return to site tomorrow morning.

643 containers have now been removed in total from the deck of the vessel. There are just 203 containers remaining on deck. 3 containers have been removed from below deck for access to the Hold. There are 1,556 containers remaining on/in the vessel in total.

The latest figures for the number of containers lost since the vessel grounded are: 116 containers washed overboard. 30 are unlocated, presumed sunk. 11 submerged containers have been located. 73 containers have washed ashore. 2 containers were initially lost in French waters.

Vessel owners will have M/V MSC Grace to assist in the container removal operation, arriving on Feb. 25. The 155mt. M/V MSC Grace will act as a feeder vessel, for the shuttle barge and Big Foot to unload onto for transfer onward.

A survelliance aircraft confirms that there is still a small amount of sheen oil around the vessel. There is no new oil come from the vessel.

ONSHORE

Contractors have established a decontamination compound at Portland Port. This has been licenced by the Environment Agency. Decontamination of hazardous materials is due to begin on Thursday or Friday this week.

No fresh oil has come ashore. Contractors are today cleaning the small amounts of oil that previously washed ashore at Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton. This oil has coagulated into manageable globules which will be easily removed.

The Contractor's clean up operations are continuing well. They have brought in more people to assist. Today they will be attempting at high tide to remove the empty containers from the beaches at Beer and Golden Cap. They are continuing to use the electro magnet to clean the beach at Branscombe. They will be carrying out a full survey of beaches across Lyme Bay to identify debris washed ashore. Duck carcases washed ashore are being collected for incineration. Cleaning in other areas continues.

From our On Scene Correspondent Dan Bryan of Dan Bryan Photography - UK

M/V MSC Napoli Remains In Danger Feb. 22 2007

Photo Courtesy of Dan Bryan Photography - UK

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 22 2007 - Worker Knocked To Sea By Crane

A member of the M/V MSC Napoli salvage team has been airlifted to hospital after he was knocked off a shuttle barge by a crane. The man suffered head & back injuries when he was thrown into the water in Portland, Dorset, on Feb. 21. Coastguard spokesman said the injured man managed to struggle ashore before emergency services arrived. The worker, who part of a team ferrying containers from the stricken M/V MSC Napoli, was airlifted to Dorset County hospital where he is still being treated. Cargo containers contine to be removed by shuttle barges which can carry about 70 containers. From our On Scene Correspondent Dan Bryan of Dan Bryan Photography - UK

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 22 2007pm - Criminal Penalties Loom

Salvage experts in charge of the recovery of M/V MSC Napoli, grounded off Lyme Bay in Devon, are planning to remove the ship from the coast. Naval architects are now working out the best way to move the vessel, which was grounded in Jan. Meanwhile, people who recovered items washed ashore after it was beached have until 20 Feb. to report the finds. Thousands of items recovered by members of the public from washed-up containers from the vessel have been reported to The Receiver of Wreck. Failure to do so is a criminal offence under the Merchant Shipping Act. The Maritime & Coastguard Agency is said pleasantly surprised with the response, most notably with the reporting of many of the BMW motorbikes which were taken from the beach. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen

From The Royal Society For The Protection of Birds (RSPB)

Seventeen different species were among the more than 1,600 birds oiled after the beached container M/V MSC Napoli spilled its fuel oil in Lyme Bay on the south Devon coast. Guillemots were worst hit, with fears that birds which breed in the region could be among those affected. Large numbers of various gull species, razorbills and great northern divers were also among the casualties. Lyme Bay is recognised for its wide diversity of marine wildlife and fisheries and is used regularly by seabirds in winter. In particular, it supports internationally important numbers of wintering gannets and great skuas. The RSPB hopes lessons will be learned from the Napoli incident. In particular it highlights the need for the new Environmental Liability Directive, an EU law due to come into force in April, to include Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

The legislation is designed to make the polluter pay for environmental damage they cause, but as it stands only European designated sites would qualify for the protection it offers. SSSIs such as the Exe Estuary & Chesil Beach and the Fleet would be covered because they are also Special Protection Areas under European law, but important guillemot colonies like those at Berry Head in south Devon and Portland in Dorset would go unprotected. RSPB South West England regional office

From Simon Rickaby - Past President Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology

"Controlled beaching is preferable to having an uncontrolled sinking. Recovery of cargo and substances from the surface is far easier than from hundreds or thousands of meters down. Beaching is a recognized salvage method and it is often preferable to beach a ship on a softer sandy base than risking it sinking onto rocks and causing further damage. The salvage team's priority will be to recover the heavy fuel oil as this is a persistent oil which is damaging to the environment but can easily be recovered."

"Every container on this ship will have a unique number. Any container with cargo that is deemed hazardous will have its container number listed on the ships dangerous goods manifesto. This will also describe what class of dangerous material the container holds and its exact location on the ship. The salvage team will therefore know the type of hazard each container poses and exactly where containers are on the ship. Those no longer on the ship can easily be tracked down.  Containers are very resilient. They have immense strength and tend to float to shore. Those that do sink can be found easily with sonar."

Simon Rickaby

M/V MSC Napoli & Bigfoot Off Load Containers

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 23 2007 - Shampoo & Dried Milk

Cosmetics, shampoo & dried milk from the beached cargo ship have been reported on Bournemouth, Highcliffe & Christchurch beaches in Dorset. Items were also seen on the Isle of Wight but no new containers have washed ashore. A spokeswoman for the Maritime &Coastguard Agency said none of the items are dangerous. She added that there had been no new reports of any oil coming ashore. Solent Coastguard were on their way to the Isle of Wight after reports that tins of dried milk had been washed up. From our Correspondent A.L. Griffiths

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 27 2007 - Deck Containers Now All Cleared

The deck of M/V MSC Napoli has been cleared of containers. Some 853 containers have been removed from the deck & taken to Portland in Dorset.

The 62,000 ton M/V MSC Napoli was intentionally grounded a mile off the Lyme Bay World Heritage Coast site in Jan. 2006.

Salvage experts are to begin working on removing the remaining 1,350 containers from the hold of M/V MSC Napoli. More than 110 containers have gone overboard.

M/V MSC Napoli was grounded when it was feared she would go down during a tow to Portland having suffered hull damage in a Channel storm during which her 26 crew were rescued.

A total of 116 containers were lost overboard, 73 of which were washed ashore. Another 30 containers were presumed sunk & not located, 11 submerged containers were traced, & 2 were lost in French waters. Debris from the stricken vessel has been washed up from Torbay in south Devon to the Isle of Wight.

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman confirmed on Feb. 27 that all the deck containers had been removed & work had commenced on removing containers from the holds. He added that none of the containers that fell overboard presented a significant risk to human health. But he warned said it was possible more containers could be lost depending on the weather.

Meanwhile, a Devon MP has accused Mr Ladyman & the Receiver of Wreck of misunderstanding the law relating to washed-up cargo from M/V MSC Napoli. In a House of Commons debate on Feb. 28, East Devon MP Hugo Swire will ask the minister whether he accepts that such a misunderstanding led to the scenes of hundreds of people carrying away cargo from Branscombe beach. Mr Swire also wants the government to support an appeal for £30,000 to restore the image of the area and help tourism and business. In his statement on 27 Feb., Mr Ladyman said police would shut off access to any more containers that came ashore & arrest anybody trying to remove articles from beaches affected. From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

Bigfoot Removes Last Deck Containers

From The Cargo Letter - Feb. 28 2007 - There Will Be No Investigation - Clean Up May Yake A year

A public inquiry will not be held into the beaching of M/V MSC Napoli The announcement was made by Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman during a Commons debate called by East Devon MP Hugo Swire. Mr Ladyman said there would be an investigation but a lengthy & costly public inquiry into the grounding was considered "inappropriate" The 62,000-ton M/V MSC Napoli was beached a mile off the Lyme Bay World Heritage Coast site on 20 Jan.. In relation to compensation, Mr Ladyman said the insurers would provide a fund of £14.5m and everyone would be treated equally. He said claims for compensation would have to be fought through the courts, although local councels might get government help towards the clean-up.

Mr Ladyman said under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and international conventions the limitation fund established in the UK could include claims for property damage & cleaning up cargo and oil. He added that applications for compensation by local authorities "would be dealt with as quickly as possible".

Police will close off beach access if more containers come ashore. From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

From The Cargo Letter - March 8 2007 - 13 of 17 BMW Motorcycles Recovered.

Police have finally seized two BMW motorcycles believed to have been taken from the stricken M/V MSC Napoli. The bikes were found at a firm's compound near Axminster in east Devon. No arrests have been made. The seventeen 800cc. motorcycles were taken from containers taken overside M/V MSC Napoli, of which 13 have been reported to the Receiver of Wreck. All items taken from the coastline had to be reported to the Receiver of Wreck before 20 Feb. Failure to return the property could result in a fine of up to £2,500 and having to pay the owner twice the value of the item. The Receiver of Wreck, Sophia Exelby, said about 1,400 items had been reported, which she said was a "fair response". "I am reasonably pleased the majority of people have reported items and have shown themselves to be law abiding," she said. The MCA is helping Ms Exelby to recover lost items. The owner of the ship, Zodiac Maritime, has also appointed private contractors to recover all items lost overboard and washed ashore. All above-deck containers on M/V MSC Napoli have now been removed by salvagers & work has begun on removing the containers in the ship's holds. From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

From The Cargo Letter - March 12 2007 - 13 of 17 BMW Motorcycles Recovered.

After the recent storm break the crane barge Big Foot was back on site & offloading containers. The condition of M/V MSC Napoli remains stable, with a list of 8.4 degrees. The known visible cracks have been checked again and there is no change. The skimming of oil from the engine room is continuing. Removing the containers is a difficult and slow process, but the salvage team is making progress. An over flight has identified 3 oily slicks, which are mostly sheen oil and which are dispersing. It is thought that these have come from below the deck, stirred up by the operation to remove the containers. M/V MSC Grace continues to take containers from Portland to Le Havre. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen. (March 12 2007)

From The Cargo Letter - March 15 2007 - The Work of Below Deck Containers Continues

M/V MSC Napoli remains stable & containers are being removed from below deck. Containers removed over the weekend were transported to Portland Port Mar 12.

The onboard salvage team identified a fuel tank on the port side that still contained an amount of marine diesel oil. Recovery of that oil is now complete. Skimming of oil from the surface of the water in the engine room continues. A report of globules of oil & oiled debris in the water between Beer Head and Portland is being investigated. Sonar boats are continuing to work in the area to the East of the vessel, but no targets have been identified. A report of oil ashore at Branscombe beach March 12 was investigated & contractors have removed it.

Small quantities of materials from M/V MSC Napoli are washing ashore with the tide. Contractors are continuing to recover the debris for return to owners or disposal.

202 checked containers stored at Portland Port are ready for onward shipment aboard M/V MSC Grace to Le Havre.

There have been no further reports of oiled birds. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen

From The Cargo Letter - March 22 2007 - Hope For M/V MSC Napoli
SEAWARD: Wind, force 6 to 8 gusting to force 9 at times. Sea condition is moderate to rough.

Naval Architects were onboard M/V MSC Napoli yesterday. The Architects have been looking at the structure of to decide how best to remove it. They advise that it may be possible to refloat M/V MSC Napoli to tow her away, after all the internal cargo has been removed. Although weather dependent, the salvage crew are working towards a deadline of having removed the internal cargo by the end of October.

Skimming of oil from the surface of the water in the engine room and Number 6 Hold is continuing

The crane barge Big Foot is continuing to remove containers from below the vessel's deck. Good progress was made over the weekend & yesterday, with almost 60, 20ft. & 40ft. containers removed.

Water samples from the hold are being collected for the Center for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

ONSHORE: The M/V MSC Grace, the vessel that is transfering processed containers from Portland Port to Le Havre, is due to arrive back at Portland at the end of this week.

The National Trust reopened the western end of Branscombe beach March 16. The event went well & was well attended.

The Contractors have removed the previous stockpile of waste from the compound at Branscombe. They are continuing to sweep for debris washing ashore with the tide, and will dispose of the submerged containers when located and brought ashore. From our Correspondent Ashely Black. (March 22 2007)

From The Cargo Letter - March 27 2007 - Hope For M/V MSC Napoli

The State of M/V MSC Napoli UPDATE - Tues. March 27 2007

SEAWARD: The Environment Group assigned to the recovery of M/V MSC Napoli has confirmed that operations to remove containers from the vessel is now well over half way -- 43% of the original 2,318 containers are left, and the removal is going well.

853 containers have been removed from the deck; so far 353 containers have been removed from below deck - this operation is continuing; 88 containers have been recovered from the sea and the shoreline; 26 containers are submerged (some located, some remain unlocated, but the containers have been identified so contents are known to the authorities); there are 998 containers remaining below deck.

Crane barge, Big Foot, which is removing the containers from the vessel, now needs to be modified to enable it to lift heavier containers with a longer reach. Many of the containers are now heavier having become waterlogged. The removal operation will be suspended in the next few days to allow for the necessary modifications to Big Foot.

Clean containers (checked &processed) have been transferred onward from Portland Port on the MSC Grace to Le Havre, the nearest large container port that can accommodate the cargo. M/V MSC Napoli remains stable with no change to its condition. The skimming of oil from the engine room and Number 6 Hold continues.

The Centre for Fisheries and Aqualculture Science and the Environment Agency are studying water samples taken from the vessel's hold. Portland Port recovery teams continue to process the latest arrival of containers fromM/V MSC Napoli. Divers were unable to work over the weekend due to the height of the swell. The sonar vessels are continuing their explorations to locate submerged containers. The authorities have issued an invitation to tender for the removal of the wreck, with a closing date of the 4th April.

ONSHORE: There has been no reports of oil ashore. Small quantities of debris are being collected from the beaches.

OTHER: East Devon District Council has distributed the following press notice to media today: The tiny village of Branscombe has bounced back from the recent setbacks caused by a beached cargo ship and has turned the incident into a commercial winner! The village's Branscombe Vale Brewery has launched a special ale in celebration of the strickenM/V MSC Napoli- called appropriately enough Napoli's On The Rocks. And the beer is already a favourite with local drinkers. With Easter just around the corner and East Devon's beaches looking great again after numerous public litter-picks, pubs in the area are hoping beer lovers will "sink" a few pints and toasting the Napoli with the words "down the hatch".

From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

From The Cargo Letter - April 2 2007 - Situation For M/V MSC Napoli Looking Up -- Way Up!

The Environment Group assigned to the recovery of M/V MSC Napoli has confirmed that operations to remove containers from the vessel is now well over half way. 43% of the original 2,318 containers are left, and the removal is going well.

853 containers have been removed from the deck; so far 353 containers have been removed from below deck - this operation is continuing; 88 containers have been recovered from the sea and the shoreline; 26 containers are submerged (some located, some remain un-located, but the containers have been identified so contents are known to the authorities); there are 998 containers remaining below deck.

The crane barge Big Foot, which is removing the containers from the vessel, now needs to be modified to enable it to lift heavier containers with a longer reach. Many of the containers are now heavier having become waterlogged. The removal operation will be suspended in the next few days to allow for the necessary modifications to Big Foot.

Clean containers (checked & processed) have been transferred onward from Portland Port on the M/V MSC Grace to Le Havre, the nearest large container port that can accommodate the cargo.

M/V MSC Napoli remains stable with no change to her condition.

Skimming of oil from the engine room and Number 6 Hold continues.

The Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Environment Agency are studying water samples taken from the vessel's hold.

UK's Portland Port recovery teams continue to process the latest arrival of containers from M/V MSC Napoli.

Divers were unable to work over the weekend due to the height of the swell. The sonar vessels are continuing their explorations to locate submerged containers. Authorities have issued an invitation to tender for the removal of the wreck, with a closing date of the 4th April.

Onshore Report: There has been no reports of oil ashore. Small quantities of debris are being collected from the beaches.

From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen

From The Cargo Letter - April 8 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli, As The Attraction

The first public cruise around the wreck of the beached M/V MSC Napoli has taken place.

M/V Pride of Exmouth, a 250-seater passenger boat, toured around the wreck, keeping clear of the 500m (1,640 ft) exclusion zone.

Since the ship was run aground off Branscombe Mouth beach in January, hundreds of individual boats have been out to view it.

However most onlookers watched the salvage operation from the shoreline.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

From The Cargo Letter - April 16 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli, Salvage Operations Continue

Operations are continuing, to remove containers from below deck of M/V MSC Napoli; to skim oil from the engine room & Number 6 Hold; to process containers at Portland Port, and onward transfer.

Overflight reconnaisance has reported light patchy sheen around M/V MSC Napoli only, which is normal.

Oily debris at Beachy Head has been disposed of by contractors and the local authority

Divers have collected engine parts & other heavy items from the seabed which will be removed and disposed of.

Members of the multi agency Environment Group are considering options for removing the ballast water aboard the vessel.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

From The Cargo Letter - April 23 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli May Be Towed Off Say Naval Architects

Naval Architects were onboard M/V MSC Napoli on Apr 20. The Architects have been looking at the structure of the vessel to decide how best to remove it. They advise that it may be possible to re-float the vessel to tow it away, after all the internal cargo has been removed. Although weather dependent, the salvage crew are working towards a deadline of having removed the internal cargo by the end of October.

Skimming of oil from the surface of the water in the engine room and Number 6 Hold is continuing The crane barge Big Foot is continuing to remove containers from below the vessel's deck. Good progress was made over the weekend and yesterday, with almost 60 20- and 40 foot containers removed. M/V MSC Grace, the vessel that is transferring processed containers from Portland Port to Le Havre, is due to arrive back at Portland at the end of this week.

The National Trust reopened the western end of Branscombe beach Apr 20. The event went well and was well attended. The Contractors have removed the previous stockpile of waste from the compound at Branscombe. They are continuing to sweep for debris washing ashore with the tide, and will dispose of the submerged containers when located and brought ashore.

From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen

From The Cargo Letter - April 30 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli Cargo Recovery 2 Months Ahead of Schedule - 300 Containers Left!

The company salvaging cargo from the stricken M/V MSC Napoli off the Devon coast may finish the operation about two months ahead of schedule. Since it was beached in Lyme Bay in January salvors have worked around the clock to remove more than 2,000 containers from the stricken ship. Now only 300 containers remain on board and it is hoped the operation could be completed in the next two weeks. Dutch salvors, Smit International, also hope to refloat the vessel. The company will carry out a full risk assessment of the ship's structure when all the cargo has been removed, but the plan is to keep the vessel in one piece and tow her away.

Seabed recovery -- The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was not involved in the salvage costs, but would not be surprised to hear an operation of this size would probably run into hundreds of thousands of pounds a day. A spokesperson added that any losses incurred would be recovered from insurers. A team of divers has also been employed on a daily basis to clear cargo & debris from the seabed. Keith Pope, who operates a landing craft for the divers, told BBC News he was not surprised at the costs given the nature of the work involved and the equipment being used."There are massive bits of lifting kit out there," he said. "You've got deep sea-going tugs that are standing by to tow the containers. "Offshore work is, and always has been, quite intense work - you just cannot rush it and unfortunately the costs are what they are."

From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen

From The Cargo Letter - 9 May 2007 - Down To 200 Containers

From the MSC Napoli Response Centre

The weather forecast today is for southwesterly winds possibly reaching gale 8, with rain or drizzle or showers.  Sea conditions are moderate or rough.

There has been no noticable change in the condition of M/V MSC Napoli. There are approximately 200 containers now left on board the vessel, and work to remove them is progressing well although at a slower rate now that the operation has got more difficult.

No decision has been made yet, but one option as reported in the media, is for M/V MSC Napoli to be thoroughly cleaned and towed to deep water and sunk. There would need to be a full risk assessment that would take into account the potential impact on the marine environment before a decision is made, and the authorities would need to comply with strict national guidance and regulations.  Another possibility is that M/V MSC Napoli be recycled.

Skimming of oil from the hold is continuing.  High winds yesterday impeded the container lifting operation for a few hours, but the removal of containers did commence late afternoon and is continuing again today despite poor weather conditions.

Arrival of the M/V MSC Grace to Portland has been delayed due to congestion problems at Antwerp and is now scheduled to arrive on 11 May to transfer processed containers on to Le Havre. Arrangements are being made at Portland to manage the high volume of containers in storage.

There have been no new reports of oil at sea or on shore.  A small number of polystyrene pellets floating in water around Portland Port have been collected.  A fisherman has recovered a container side panel, which will be identified so long as the identification number is available.

Poor weather yesterday also hampered diving work to locate other submerged containers.

A meeting is planned for Friday this week between the ship's owners and the Chairman of the Environment Group to discuss the environmental impact of the removal of the ship.

Devon County Council has released the following press release today, concerning a meeting of the Devon Maritime Forum this Friday, to discuss the Government's Marine Bill White Paper:

Devon Maritime Forum to discuss Marine Bill

THE Devon Maritime Forum will meet with Defra officials to discuss the Government's Marine Bill White Paper on Friday. (11 May)

The Forum has invited Defra's head of the Marine Bill team to the meeting at the Riviera Centre, Torquay, to find out what current Government thinking is and to try to help guide the legislation.

The publication of the Marine Bill White Paper will set out new legislation covering planning in the marine environment, licensing of development activity, marine nature conservation, fisheries and a new "Marine Management Organisation".  

Professor Laurence Mee, Chairman of the Devon Maritime Forum and Director of the University of Plymouth's Marine Institute, said: "The Marine Bill is the single most important piece of legislation to come forward that affects the marine environment.  

The beaching of the Napoli emphasises the vulnerability of our marine environment. It is vital that we have our say locally.  Our Devon Maritime Forum meeting welcomes the opportunity to speak directly to Defra on the Marine Bill."

Also on the agenda at the meeting is the beaching of the M/V MSC Napoli, planning in Lyme Bay, the maritime economy in Torbay, Marine Protected Areas - The Finding Sanctuary Project and Shoreline Management Plans.

The Forum is supported by Devon County Council, Environment Agency, Natural England, South West Water, Devon Wildlife Trust, National Trust and University of Plymouth.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

From The Cargo Letter - 11 May 2007 - Down To 130 Containers & Contaminated Vodka

M/V MSC Napoli - Situation Update

130 containers remain on board the vessel as of 17:00 yesterday.

Specialist pumps are being organised in Rotterdam to assist with operations to re-float M/V MSC Napoli. These will hopefully arrive in the UK in a week to 10 days time, although no plan has been agreed yet for how the vessel will be re-floated.

Skimming of oil from the engine room, port side and Number 6 hold is continuing. Salvers have been patching and repairing the hull in Number 5 hold. Work is progressing well.

Water samples continue to be taken and tested from the holds of the vessel.

The M/V MSC Grace is expected to arrive at Portland Port today to transfer another shipment of containers to Le Havre.

The Health Protection Agency has followed up the story that vodka was stolen from a container at Portland Port (as reported in media yesterday). There were concerns that the vodka may be contaminated, and Dorset Police issued a warning urging 'anyone who has bought a bottle of vodka from a man in the Weymouth area not to drink it." The advice from the Salvage Control Unit to the Health Protection Agency is that the vodka has been tested and found in good condition. However, no known vodka has left the site. The containers with the vodka are being loaded onto M/V MSC Grace.

Contractors are responding to reports of fruit juice cartons washing ashore at Branscombe.

From our Correspondent Ashely Black.

Editor Note --

For the future, it will be a case of trying to work out the best methodology -- whether authorities cut M/V MSC Napoli in two pieces or whether she will be refloated as she is. But M/V MSC Napoli will be removed from this ecologically sensitive site -- one way or the other. McD

Further News As This Disaster Continues

Editors Note: Expect Our Contining Coverage.

THIS IS PAGE 2 -- Feature Updates

Readers Note: This Feature Has Now Moved Forward To 5 Pages:

Page 1 M/V MSC Napoli- Initial Reports - to Jan. 29 2007

Page 2 M/V MSC Napoli - Jan. 30 To May 17 - Daily On-Scene Commentary - Container Removal Operations

Page 3 M/V MSC Napoli - Feb. 6 2007 - Presentation To The EU Parliament - Casualty Management Issues

Page 4 M/V MSC Napoli - May 18 To July 22 - Vessel Refloating Operations

Updates Below - go to the feature
18 May 2007 - All Containers Removed!

9 June 2007 - Refloating Has Begun!

8 June 2007 - Aerial Survey

8 July 2007 - Refloating Tomorrow?

9 July 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli Is Refloated - Our Air Force Is Grounded!

13 July 2007 pm - The Dream Is Lost? Grounded Again!

15 July 2007 pm - The Dream Is Lost! THE LADY WILL BE CUT IN TWO.

18 July 2007 - Even Dynamite Can't Kill M/V MSC Napoli

20 July 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli In Two

Page 5 M/V MSC Napoli - July 20-23 -The Death of M/V MSC Napoli - The Blast

25 July 2007 - Two Points of View

7 Aug. 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli In The Afterlife

18 Aug. 2007 - M/V MSC Napoli - Her End

 

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EDITOR'S NOTE FOR SURVEYORS, ATTORNEYS & MARINE ADJUSTERS: The Internet edition effort of The Cargo Letter now celebrates it's 8th Year of Service -- making us quite senior in this segment of the industry. We once estimated container underway losses at about 1,500 per year. Lloyd's put that figure at about 10,000 earlier this year. Quite obviously, the reporting mechanism for these massive losses is not supported by the lines. News of these events is not posted to the maritime community. Our new project is to call upon you -- those handling the claims -- to let us know of each container loss at sea-- in confidentiality. Many of you survey on behalf of cargo interests with no need for confidentiality. Others work for the lines & need to be protected. As a respected Int'l publication, The Cargo Letter enjoys full press privileges & cannot be forced to disclose our sources of information. No successful attempt has ever been made. If a personal notation for your report is desired -- each contributor will be given a "hot link" to your company Website in each & every report. Please take moment & report your "overside" containers to us. If you do not wish attribution, your entry will be "anonymous." This will will benefit our industry -- for obvious reasons! McD


* NOTE: The Cargo Letter wants you to know that by keeping the identity of our contributors 100% Confidential, you are able to view our continuing series of "Cargo Disasters." Our friends send us materials which benefit the industry. The materials are provided to our news publication with complete and enforceable confidentiality for the sender. In turn, we provide these materials to you.  Please Contribute

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