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| Fight to prevent Napoli oil leak | |
| (about 2 hours 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. |
| The MSC Napoli suffered structural damage during Thursday's storms and was beached off Branscombe to stop it sinking in deep water. | The MSC Napoli suffered structural damage during Thursday's storms and was beached off Branscombe to stop it sinking in deep water. |
| Up to 200 tonnes of oil may have leaked from a fuel tank on the listing vessel, sparking pollution concern. | Up to 200 tonnes of oil may have leaked from a fuel tank on the listing vessel, sparking pollution concern. |
| It has emerged that the ship previously ran aground off Singapore in 2001. | It has emerged that the ship previously ran aground off Singapore in 2001. |
| Department of Transport salvage chief Robin Middleton said he had decided the ship should be towed in and beached in Lyme Bay to reduce environmental damage. | Department of Transport salvage chief Robin Middleton said he had decided the ship should be towed in and beached in Lyme Bay to reduce environmental damage. |
| The 62,000 tonne vessel was carrying 2,323 containers, 158 of which are classed as having potentially hazardous contents. | The 62,000 tonne vessel was carrying 2,323 containers, 158 of which are classed as having potentially hazardous contents. |
| Three of the containers already washed overboard contained battery acid and perfumes. Others housed a variety of goods including BMW motorbikes and car parts. | Three of the containers already washed overboard contained battery acid and perfumes. Others housed a variety of goods including BMW motorbikes and car parts. |
| Mr Middleton told a news conference that the ship had suffered structural damage in the form of a fracture on both sides. | Mr Middleton told a news conference that the ship had suffered structural damage in the form of a fracture on both sides. |
| We have an extremely sensitive bit of coastline; we are dealing with a World Heritage Site Julian Wardlaw, Environment Agency Fears of harm to local area | We have an extremely sensitive bit of coastline; we are dealing with a World Heritage Site Julian Wardlaw, Environment Agency Fears of harm to local area |
| Mr Middleton said the salvage plan was focusing on oil which was deemed to be "the greater threat". | Mr Middleton said the salvage plan was focusing on oil which was deemed to be "the greater threat". |
| He said this included "diesel and 3,500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil" used to fuel the ship. | He said this included "diesel and 3,500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil" used to fuel the ship. |
| "At the moment it is all contained within the vessel," said Mr Middleton. | "At the moment it is all contained within the vessel," said Mr Middleton. |
| An eight-person salvage team is currently on board the ship and a team of divers is being flown in to join them. | An eight-person salvage team is currently on board the ship and a team of divers is being flown in to join them. |
| The anti-pollution team said they hoped to be able to start pumping out the remaining oil on board the ship on Monday. | The anti-pollution team said they hoped to be able to start pumping out the remaining oil on board the ship on Monday. |
| 'Sensitive' coastline | 'Sensitive' coastline |
| "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. | "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. | 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. | "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. |
| This photo of an oil covered bird was sent by Gareth Hughes | This photo of an oil covered bird was sent by Gareth Hughes |
| It has emerged that the ship was previously named CMA-CGM Normandie and ran aground in the Strait of Malacca in 2001. | It has emerged that the ship was previously named CMA-CGM Normandie and ran aground in the Strait of Malacca in 2001. |
| The ship subsequently had to undergo "major repairs" in Vietnam, according to Tore Hoifodt, senior vice president at DNV, which classes and inspects 17% of the world's cargo fleet. | |
| 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). |
| Some of the containers from the vessel have come ashore | Some of the containers from the vessel have come ashore |
| Booms have also been placed over river mouths to protect wildlife. | Booms have also been placed over river mouths to protect wildlife. |
| Paul Coley of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency described the hazardous products in the missing containers as being "low risk": | Paul Coley of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency described the hazardous products in the missing containers 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. |
| "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." |
| 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. |
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