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Pollution fear from leaking ship Pollution fear from leaking ship
(30 minutes later)
Containers of hazardous chemicals have been washed overboard from a beached cargo ship off the Devon coast, which is also leaking oil.Containers of hazardous chemicals have been washed overboard from a beached cargo ship off the Devon coast, which is also leaking oil.
The containers, which are thought to contain battery acid and perfume, fell from the heavily-listing MSC Napoli during a storm on Saturday evening.The containers, which are thought to contain battery acid and perfume, fell from the heavily-listing MSC Napoli during a storm on Saturday evening.
Coastguards fear the ship, in Lyme Bay, could capsize "at any time".Coastguards fear the ship, in Lyme Bay, could capsize "at any time".
Two hundred tonnes of oil have leaked from the ruptured fuel tank prompting pollution fears for nearby beaches. Some of the 200 tonnes of oil in the ruptured fuel tank has leaked prompting pollution fears for nearby beaches.
We are in an uncontrolled situation, so we need to stabilise the ship before we can start discharging oil Paul Coley, MCA The oil, which has formed a five-mile slick and is heading towards Lyme Regis. It has emerged that the ship was previously named The Normandy and ran aground in Vietnam in 2001.
It 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 ship subsequently had to undergo extensive repairs.
We are in an uncontrolled situation, so we need to stabilise the ship before we can start discharging oil Paul Coley, MCA
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).
Booms have also been placed over river mouths to protect wildlife.Booms have also been placed over river mouths to protect wildlife.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_stricken_ship/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_stricken_ship/html/1.stm', '1169319297', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">The sun sets on the MSC Napoli as the salvage operation prepares to get underway href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_stricken_ship/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_stricken_ship/html/1.stm', '1169319297', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures 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. There are pollution fears after oil leaked from the ship
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 all efforts were being directed at preventing the ship from listing further, by using anchors and weighing the hull down with seawater.Paul Coley of the MCA 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.
Enlarge Image People are being warned not to approach any container they may find but to report it to Portland Coastguard on 01305 760439.Enlarge Image 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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