Leaking ship sparks pollution alert

12 April 2012

A major anti-pollution operation is underway after a stricken cargo ship started leaking oil off the coast of Devon.

The MSC Napoli was deliberately run aground near Sidmouth, east Devon after it was damaged during a storm on Thursday.

The 62,000 tonne ship is carrying 2,400 containers, some of which contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

Coastguards have reported up to 200 of the containers, carrying materials such as battery acid and perfume, had come loose from the stricken ship, which also contains 3,500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil.

Robin Middleton, the secretary of state's representative for Maritime, Salvage and Intervention, said: "The salvage plan is concerned with the oils which we deem to be the greater threat, they include diesel and 3,500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil. At the moment it is all contained within the vessel.

"At present oil is coming from the vessel, we believe that oil is coming from fractured tanks or from the overflow tanks in the engine space."

Navy helicopters rescued the Napoli's 26 crew members on Thursday in rough seas, 40 miles off Lizard Point, Cornwall, after a hole in its side flooded the engine room and stalled the ship.

Salvage adviser Jim Chubb said that of the containers that have been lost, three are listed as containing dangerous substances. He said there are 157 in total on the ship containing a variety of dangerous goods such as perfume, ethanol, pesticides and toxic liquids.

Thousands have flocked to the east Devon cliffs and crowds are gathering on Sidmouth seafront to get a glimpse of the giant 62,000 vessel.

Branscombe Beach has been closed by police as more than 20 containers have broken up on the sand scattering their contents along the coastline. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have warned members of the public to stay away from any containers they see and to report any sightings to Portland Coastguard.

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