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Napoli scavenger to return goods Napoli scavenger to return goods
(about 2 hours later)
A man who scavenged the possessions of a Swedish family from the stricken container ship MSC Napoli has pledged to return the booty.A man who scavenged the possessions of a Swedish family from the stricken container ship MSC Napoli has pledged to return the booty.
Michael Wheeler, from Devon, said he regretted taking a china set belonging to Anita and Jan Bokdal, saying he had been "caught up with the atmosphere".Michael Wheeler, from Devon, said he regretted taking a china set belonging to Anita and Jan Bokdal, saying he had been "caught up with the atmosphere".
Mrs Bokdal, who saw her crate raided on TV at Branscombe beach in Devon, said she was glad it would be returned.Mrs Bokdal, who saw her crate raided on TV at Branscombe beach in Devon, said she was glad it would be returned.
Crane barges from the Netherlands will join the salvage operation on Saturday. The ship's owners say they are working "round the clock" to salvage it.
Map of the area and diagram of MSC NapoliMap of the area and diagram of MSC Napoli
They are expected to help lift the remaining 2,394 containers from the ship, grounded off Sidmouth, east Devon. Zodiac Maritime say preparations are "well advanced" for taking the remaining 2,291 containers from the ship, grounded off Sidmouth, east Devon.
A crane barge is due to arrive from the Netherlands later and is expected to boost the operation.
Anita Bokdal saw her container being raided on televisionAnita Bokdal saw her container being raided on television
The 62,000-tonne vessel, which was holed in storms on 18 January, was deliberately run aground following "serious structural failure". And the firm said it was "removing manually" about 60 to 100 tonnes of oil that had spilled from the vessel, affecting a four-mile stretch of beach.
Hundreds of scavengers descended on the beach at Branscombe after 50 of the ship's containers washed ashore. Hundreds of scavengers descended on the beach at Branscombe when 50 of the ship's containers washed ashore, after it was holed in storms on 18 January.
Mr Wheeler, 27, a builder who lives near the wreck, said it had bordered on a "party atmosphere" as crates were ripped open and goods taken away.Mr Wheeler, 27, a builder who lives near the wreck, said it had bordered on a "party atmosphere" as crates were ripped open and goods taken away.
"People were very excited by what was happening and I think everyone, including myself, got caught up with the moment and the atmosphere," he told BBC News."People were very excited by what was happening and I think everyone, including myself, got caught up with the moment and the atmosphere," he told BBC News.
He said he opened the Bokdals' crate and took a crockery set from it.He said he opened the Bokdals' crate and took a crockery set from it.
Maritime experts believe structural damage to the Napoli caused it to start 'hogging' The weakened hull causes a ship's bow and stern to sagThe effect is made worse by rough seasMaritime experts believe structural damage to the Napoli caused it to start 'hogging' The weakened hull causes a ship's bow and stern to sagThe effect is made worse by rough seas
"We got home and reflected on what we'd done and realised that perhaps it wasn't the right thing, morally, to be doing."We got home and reflected on what we'd done and realised that perhaps it wasn't the right thing, morally, to be doing.
"I'd like to apologise to Mrs Bokdal because, had the shoe been on the other foot, it would have been very distressing for me.""I'd like to apologise to Mrs Bokdal because, had the shoe been on the other foot, it would have been very distressing for me."
Mr Wheeler said a national newspaper had intervened and agreed to send the goods on to Cape Town.Mr Wheeler said a national newspaper had intervened and agreed to send the goods on to Cape Town.
Mrs Bokdal, who discovered the fate of her crate when she saw TV pictures of her possessions being raided, accepted the apology. Mrs Bokdal accepted the apology, saying: "I'm so glad that you have brought the things back."
"I'm so glad that you have brought the things back," she said.
Mrs Bokdal, who spends half her time in South Africa, said the container had been full of irreplaceable possessions with huge sentimental value.Mrs Bokdal, who spends half her time in South Africa, said the container had been full of irreplaceable possessions with huge sentimental value.
The vessel has leaked about 200 tonnes of oil into the sea, killing many birds. Zodiac said a total of 103 containers had been lost from the ship - of which 56 were now accounted for.
The ship's owners say the leaked oil has now been treated and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they were satisfied everything possible was being done to prevent further spillage. And the firm said it would take at least another week to recover all the fuel from the tanks of the 62,000-tonne vessel.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they were satisfied everything possible was being done to prevent further spillage.
A decision will be made over whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed.A decision will be made over whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed.
MSC NAPOLI
  • Identified fuel tank contents given by MCA on 23 January
    		• MSC NAPOLI
  • Identified fuel tank contents given by MCA on 23 January
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