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Fight to stem cargo ship oil leak Fight to stem cargo ship oil leak
(30 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.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.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. Up to 200 tonnes of oil have leaked from a 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 have an extremely sensitive bit of coastline; we are dealing with a World Heritage Site Julian Wardlaw, Environment Agency
Mr Middleton said: "The salvage plan concerns the oils that we deem at this present moment to be the greater threat. An eight-person salvage team is currently on board the ship and a team of divers is being flown in to join them.
"Included in those oils are an amount of diesel." Coastguards have expressed fears that the ship, in Lyme Bay, could capsize "at any time". The anti-pollution team said they hoped to be able to start pumping out the remaining oil on board the ship on Monday.
"The plan is to stabilise the vessel, then to remove the fuel, then to remove the containers and then to remove the vessel itself," said Mr Middleton.
Three oil-covered birds were reported to the Environment Agency, prompting the RSPCA to work on the clean-up operation.
"We have an extremely sensitive bit of coastline; we are dealing with a World Heritage Site and we are working to make sure that damage is minimised," said Julian Wardlaw, team leader for the Environment Agency.
Capsize fears
Devon County Council has pledged support and resources in dealing with the attempt to deal with the environmental impact.
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 HughesThis 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. Paul Coley of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency described the hazardous products in the missing containers as being "low risk":
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.
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 containers from the vessel have come ashore
"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 stabalising the ship, which is listing by about 35 degrees, by using anchors and weighing the hull down with seawater.
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.
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.
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".
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