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Napoli's cargo to be off-loaded Napoli salvage cargo bid to begin
(about 9 hours later)
Preparations are under way to lift off more than 2,000 containers from the cargo ship MSC Napoli as she lists heavily a mile off Sidmouth, Devon. Coastguards are making final preparations to lift off more than 2,000 containers from the MSC Napoli, which is beached at Branscombe, Devon.
Specialist crane barges will be tested alongside the ship on Saturday and will begin removing containers on Sunday in an operation which may take months. The ship ran aground after being damaged in storms. Hundreds of scavengers then converged on the beach to loot washed-up containers.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has warned scavengers they face arrest if they take goods that wash up ashore. Locals have criticised the way police and coastguards dealt with the influx.
And the RSPCA said many oil-covered birds it had found could die. The salvage operation could take up to five months as the team are working at a protected World Heritage Site.
At a public meeting for 300 Branscombe villagers on Saturday, some locals complained that the situation was being badly-organised by the authorities.
But the police said it was a matter of restricting access to the beach whilst allowing local residents to go about their business.
On Friday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency warned opportunists that they face arrest if they take goods that wash up ashore, while the salvage operation is under way.
The actions of the scavengers led to a depot is being set up locally for anyone wanting to return items already taken from the beach.
Mark Williams, chief executive of East Devon District Council, said: "The main critical comments were made to the MCA and the police."
Oil pumping continues
Meanwhile, salvage teams are continuing to pump out 3,500 tonnes of oil from the ship's fuel tanks. So far more than 1,700 tonnes of fuel oil has been pumped into a waiting tanker.Meanwhile, salvage teams are continuing to pump out 3,500 tonnes of oil from the ship's fuel tanks. So far more than 1,700 tonnes of fuel oil has been pumped into a waiting tanker.
'Weather dependant' The two barge cranes have sailed from Rotterdam.
The containers, which are holding many goods from BMW motorcycles to nappies, as well as fuel oil, will be lifted off in priority order. Fred Caygill, Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesman, said: "They are going to be doing a test rig and they are hoping to start offloading at first light tomorrow.
Mark Clark, Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesman, said of the task of removing the containers: "It's a bit like a game of jenga because you have to remove all the items very, very carefully without everything else falling." "The salvage team have a major operation on their hands, not just taking the containers off but taking the oil off as well.
Two barge cranes which have sailed from Rotterdam will be positioned alongside MSC Napoli. "Think of it as a game of jenga. You pull out the wrong block and I'm not saying it will all come tumbling down but it's as precise as that."
The largest crane will remove the 2,291 containers - laden with everything from BMW motorbikes to nappies - in priority order.
The smaller crane will then transfer them to a barge which will take them to Portland Port in batches of up to 90 at a time.
'Extreme exhaustion''Extreme exhaustion'
The RSPCA has said the 760 birds in its care covered with oil spilled from the MSC Napoli have "only a slim chance of survival".
Rupert Griffiths, manager of RSPCA West Hatch, said: "Being covered in oil like this is a life-threatening event for them. It stops them being able to fly or dive for food.
"It also reduces their buoyancy. By the time they are washed up on the beach they may be less than two-thirds their original weight and suffering from extreme exhaustion after paddling a long way."
The birds, which are mainly guillemots, have now been taken to the RSPCA's West Hatch Wildlife Centre near Taunton, Somerset.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds warned on Thursday that up to 10,000 seabirds could be caught in the oil slick from the wrecked ship.The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds warned on Thursday that up to 10,000 seabirds could be caught in the oil slick from the wrecked ship.
About 1,000 affected birds have been collected, but the charity said the final total could be much more.About 1,000 affected birds have been collected, but the charity said the final total could be much more.
RSPB volunteers will comb a 100-mile stretch of beach looking for more affected birds this weekend.RSPB volunteers will comb a 100-mile stretch of beach looking for more affected birds this weekend.
The 200 tonnes of oil which had leaked into the sea has now been treated.The 200 tonnes of oil which had leaked into the sea has now been treated.
But officials said on Friday it could take another week for all the fuel to be pumped to a second vessel from two of the ship's fuel tanks, which still remain under water.
The 62,000-tonne MSC Napoli, which was holed in storms on 18 January, was deliberately run aground following "serious structural failure".The 62,000-tonne MSC Napoli, which was holed in storms on 18 January, was deliberately run aground following "serious structural failure".
Hundreds of scavengers descended on the beach at Branscombe after 50 of the ship's containers washed ashore. Twenty six crew were rescued after abandoning into a lifeboat.
A depot is being set up locally for anyone wanting to return items already taken from the beach. The ship was then grounded in Lyme Bay, a mile off Sidmouth, amid fears she would sink while on tow to Portland, Dorset.
The ship had been meant to unload almost half of the containers at South African ports.The ship had been meant to unload almost half of the containers at South African ports.
MSC NAPOLI SALVAGE OPERATION The Napoli's containers will be unloaded from the stern first by crane barge Big Foot A second crane on Big Foot will then transfer containers to shuttle barge Boa Barge 21 Shuttle barge will then transfer containers to Portland Harbour, where they will be offloaded Lightering vessel Forth Fisher is positioned on the other side of the ship pumping off its remaining fuel oil A decision will be made over whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed Key fuel tanks and total contents identified by Marine Coastguard Agency on 23 January. Oil is being pumped off at a rate of approx. 30 tonnes per hourMSC NAPOLI SALVAGE OPERATION The Napoli's containers will be unloaded from the stern first by crane barge Big Foot A second crane on Big Foot will then transfer containers to shuttle barge Boa Barge 21 Shuttle barge will then transfer containers to Portland Harbour, where they will be offloaded Lightering vessel Forth Fisher is positioned on the other side of the ship pumping off its remaining fuel oil A decision will be made over whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed Key fuel tanks and total contents identified by Marine Coastguard Agency on 23 January. Oil is being pumped off at a rate of approx. 30 tonnes per hour