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| Ship scavenger 'greed' condemned | Ship scavenger 'greed' condemned |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Members of the public who have been taking goods washed ashore from stricken container ship MSC Napoli have been accused of "crass greed". | Members of the public who have been taking goods washed ashore from stricken container ship MSC Napoli have been accused of "crass greed". |
| The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said scavengers who have descended on Branscombe beach in Devon were making the clean-up more difficult. | The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said scavengers who have descended on Branscombe beach in Devon were making the clean-up more difficult. |
| It said the scenes were a "nightmare" and "deeply upsetting". | It said the scenes were a "nightmare" and "deeply upsetting". |
| Police are urging people to stay away and have begun to stop non-residents' vehicles entering the village. | Police are urging people to stay away and have begun to stop non-residents' vehicles entering the village. |
| The beach will now be closed to allow cranes and other lifting gear safe access as they start to clear away the debris. | The beach will now be closed to allow cranes and other lifting gear safe access as they start to clear away the debris. |
| The Napoli suffered structural damage during last Thursday's storms and was deliberately grounded a mile off Branscombe to stop it breaking up in deep water. | The Napoli suffered structural damage during last Thursday's storms and was deliberately grounded a mile off Branscombe to stop it breaking up in deep water. |
| Map: Devon coastline and wreck site | Map: Devon coastline and wreck site |
| About 200 of the vessel's 2,323 containers have gone overboard. | About 200 of the vessel's 2,323 containers have gone overboard. |
| Barrels of wine, shoes, hair care products, steering wheels, nappies, and BMW motorbikes are among the products washed up. | Barrels of wine, shoes, hair care products, steering wheels, nappies, and BMW motorbikes are among the products washed up. |
| But now unwanted contents are strewn the length of Branscombe's pebbled beach. | But now unwanted contents are strewn the length of Branscombe's pebbled beach. |
| WHY IS THE AREA SO SPECIAL? It's part of Britain's first natural World Heritage SiteThe site covers 95 miles of coast from East Devon to Dorset185 million years of the Earth's history are recorded in the rocks It's known as the Jurassic Coast after the best-known geological period found within itIt was declared a World Heritage Site in December 2001 as 'an outstanding example of the major stages of the Earth's history' Your pictures: MSC Napoli | WHY IS THE AREA SO SPECIAL? It's part of Britain's first natural World Heritage SiteThe site covers 95 miles of coast from East Devon to Dorset185 million years of the Earth's history are recorded in the rocks It's known as the Jurassic Coast after the best-known geological period found within itIt was declared a World Heritage Site in December 2001 as 'an outstanding example of the major stages of the Earth's history' Your pictures: MSC Napoli |
| Scavengers - some with babies in arms - have descended on the World Heritage Coast since Sunday, apparently ignoring warnings that 158 of the containers may contain hazardous chemicals. | Scavengers - some with babies in arms - have descended on the World Heritage Coast since Sunday, apparently ignoring warnings that 158 of the containers may contain hazardous chemicals. |
| Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, it is an offence for people to remove items from a wreck if they conceal or keep possession of cargo and refuse to surrender it. | Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, it is an offence for people to remove items from a wreck if they conceal or keep possession of cargo and refuse to surrender it. |
| But some of the items plundered from the container ship have already been listed on the internet auction website eBay. | But some of the items plundered from the container ship have already been listed on the internet auction website eBay. |
| BMW steering wheel airbags - advertised as coming from the Napoli - were up for sale online. | BMW steering wheel airbags - advertised as coming from the Napoli - were up for sale online. |
| MCA spokesman Mark Clark said had warnings not to touch the containers been followed, they would have been removed and the beach returned to normality quite soon. | MCA spokesman Mark Clark said had warnings not to touch the containers been followed, they would have been removed and the beach returned to normality quite soon. |
| "They have quadrupled our task," he said. | "They have quadrupled our task," he said. |
| "People are lighting fires beside the containers, getting on top of them ripping stuff out, and not heeding our warnings. | "People are lighting fires beside the containers, getting on top of them ripping stuff out, and not heeding our warnings. |
| Unwanted goods were left strewn over the World Heritage site | Unwanted goods were left strewn over the World Heritage site |
| "The MCA is deeply upset and angry because all the stuff which has been ripped out of the containers will be swept out to sea and have an environmental impact," he said. | "The MCA is deeply upset and angry because all the stuff which has been ripped out of the containers will be swept out to sea and have an environmental impact," he said. |
| "In 11 years I have never seen anything like it, it is sheer greed." | "In 11 years I have never seen anything like it, it is sheer greed." |
| The coastguard also said it may take a week to pump 3,500 tonnes of oil from the ship to stop more leaks of oil. | The coastguard also said it may take a week to pump 3,500 tonnes of oil from the ship to stop more leaks of oil. |
| The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has reported 600 seabirds had been found suffering from the effects of oil between Chesil Beach and Portland in Dorset, sparking fears environmental damage was worsening. | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has reported 600 seabirds had been found suffering from the effects of oil between Chesil Beach and Portland in Dorset, sparking fears environmental damage was worsening. |
| Return to the top | Return to the top |
| Have you taken anything from the beach? If so, why did you think it was yours to take? Should maritime law be updated for goods washed ashore from shipwrecks? Send us your comments using the form below | |