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| Fight to stem cargo ship oil leak | Fight to stem cargo ship oil leak |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An anti-pollution operation is under way after a stricken cargo ship off the Devon coast began leaking oil and lost some 200 containers overboard. | |
| Three containers carrying harmful chemicals such as battery acid and perfume fell from the heavily listing MSC Napoli during stormy weather. | |
| Up to 200 tonnes of oil have leaked from the ruptured fuel tank, sparking pollution fears for nearby beaches. | |
| Meanwhile, it has emerged that the ship ran aground in Vietnam in 2001. | Meanwhile, it has emerged that the ship ran aground in Vietnam in 2001. |
| Department of Transport salvage chief Robin Middleton said he had decided the ship should be beached to reduce damage. | Department of Transport salvage chief Robin Middleton said he had decided the ship should be beached to reduce damage. |
| He told a news conference that the ship had suffered structural damage - a fracture on both sides, and he had directed that it should be towed in and beached in Lyme Bay, to stop it sinking in deep water and causing greater damage to the environment. | He told a news conference that the ship had suffered structural damage - a fracture on both sides, and he had directed that it should be towed in and beached in Lyme Bay, to stop it sinking in deep water and causing greater damage to the environment. |
| We are in an uncontrolled situation, so we need to stabilise the ship before we can start discharging oil Paul Coley, MCA | We are in an uncontrolled situation, so we need to stabilise the ship before we can start discharging oil Paul Coley, MCA |
| Mr Middleton said: "The salvage plan concerns the oils that we deem at this present moment to be the greater threat. | Mr Middleton said: "The salvage plan concerns the oils that we deem at this present moment to be the greater threat. |
| "Included in those oils are an amount of diesel." Coastguards have expressed fears that the ship, in Lyme Bay, could capsize "at any time". | "Included in those oils are an amount of diesel." Coastguards have expressed fears that the ship, in Lyme Bay, could capsize "at any time". |
| It has emerged that the ship was previously named CMA-CGM Normandie and ran aground in Vietnam in 2001. | It has emerged that the ship was previously named CMA-CGM Normandie and ran aground in Vietnam in 2001. |
| The ship subsequently had to undergo "major repairs", according to Tore Hoifodt, senior vice president at DNV, which classes and inspects 17% of the worlds cargo fleet. | The ship subsequently had to undergo "major repairs", according to Tore Hoifodt, senior vice president at DNV, which classes and inspects 17% of the worlds cargo fleet. |
| This photo of an oil covered bird was sent by Gareth Hughes | This photo of an oil covered bird was sent by Gareth Hughes |
| Amid reports of an oil slick, a spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said oil had formed a "sheen" on the surface of the water, but it was hoped this would disperse. | Amid reports of an oil slick, a spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said oil had formed a "sheen" on the surface of the water, but it was hoped this would disperse. |
| The oil escaped when booms at the stern of the ship were lifted on Saturday night to prevent them being damaged by floating containers in the storm, said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). | The oil escaped when booms at the stern of the ship were lifted on Saturday night to prevent them being damaged by floating containers in the storm, said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). |
| Booms have also been placed over river mouths to protect wildlife. | Booms have also been placed over river mouths to protect wildlife. |
| Salvagers hope to start pumping remaining fuel from the ship on Monday while coastguards and police have found about 40 containers ashore of the 158 washed overboard. | Salvagers hope to start pumping remaining fuel from the ship on Monday while coastguards and police have found about 40 containers ashore of the 158 washed overboard. |
| Paul Coley, of the MCA, said 158 containers had gone overboard from the ship, including two holding products considered hazardous. | Paul Coley, of the MCA, said 158 containers had gone overboard from the ship, including two holding products considered hazardous. |
| These two were not among 40 containers that had been washed up on the shoreline. | These two were not among 40 containers that had been washed up on the shoreline. |
| He described the hazardous products as being "low risk": | He described the hazardous products as being "low risk": |
| "We've got perfume products that you find on the shelves in the shops, and some battery acid in one," he said. | "We've got perfume products that you find on the shelves in the shops, and some battery acid in one," he said. |
| Some of the 200 tonnes of oil in the ruptured fuel tank has leaked | Some of the 200 tonnes of oil in the ruptured fuel tank has leaked |
| "The other contains small car parts, which is airbag release bottles, which are very small gas bottles. They're considered dangerous goods but for us they're low-risk." | "The other contains small car parts, which is airbag release bottles, which are very small gas bottles. They're considered dangerous goods but for us they're low-risk." |
| Earlier, Mr Coley said all efforts were being directed at preventing the ship from listing further, by using anchors and weighing the hull down with seawater. | Earlier, Mr Coley said all efforts were being directed at preventing the ship from listing further, by using anchors and weighing the hull down with seawater. |
| "We are trying to stabilise the ship as much as possible," he said. | "We are trying to stabilise the ship as much as possible," he said. |
| "We are in an uncontrolled situation, so we need to stabilise the ship before we can start discharging oil." | "We are in an uncontrolled situation, so we need to stabilise the ship before we can start discharging oil." |
| Coastguards still hunting the other containers say some may have sunk and others could be as far as six miles out to sea. | Coastguards still hunting the other containers say some may have sunk and others could be as far as six miles out to sea. |
| 'Heavy list' | 'Heavy list' |
| People are being warned not to approach any container they may find but to report it to Portland Coastguard on 01305 760439. | People are being warned not to approach any container they may find but to report it to Portland Coastguard on 01305 760439. |
| Coastguards say there are about 160 containers with 2,800 tonnes of hazardous chemical substances on board, but most of them are in the ship's hold. | Coastguards say there are about 160 containers with 2,800 tonnes of hazardous chemical substances on board, but most of them are in the ship's hold. |
| Mark Clark, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), told BBC News: "She could capsize at any moment, but there's always been a risk that the ship would twist and capsize. | Mark Clark, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), told BBC News: "She could capsize at any moment, but there's always been a risk that the ship would twist and capsize. |
| "She is currently listing at 35 degrees, which is a very heavy list, but she is not going any further at the moment." | "She is currently listing at 35 degrees, which is a very heavy list, but she is not going any further at the moment." |
| The 26 crew were airlifted to safety after it was holed off Lizard Point, Cornwall, in the English Channel on Thursday. | The 26 crew were airlifted to safety after it was holed off Lizard Point, Cornwall, in the English Channel on Thursday. |
| After the rescue operation had finished the drifting vessel was secured and was being towed to Portland for a salvage operation, but the MCA took the decision to beach it off the coast of Sidmouth following a "serious structural failure". | After the rescue operation had finished the drifting vessel was secured and was being towed to Portland for a salvage operation, but the MCA took the decision to beach it off the coast of Sidmouth following a "serious structural failure". |
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