MSC Napoli - more delay on stern removal

My more recent entries on the Napoli had suggested that the remainder of the stern of the ship, still languishing off the Jurassic Coast near Branscombe, would have gone before the start of this summer. As you can see from the press release here issued yesterday by Fred Caygill of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency this is not now going to happen. I had thought in my ignorance that the stern section might have been lifted in one go as the salvors had entertained the possibility of doing that before the large accommodation block had been removed. Maybe the list of 40 degrees has put paid to any such notion. Whatever it appears that the MSC Napoli will still be present through the summer as they use controlled explosions to assist in the removal of the heavy components still to be removed from the stern section.

Now this final plan has come as something of a surprise and disappointment to me - I had thought that the stern section would have definitely gone before the main summer period but as I said I think the way it has heeled over must be a massive constraining factor in the removal process.

So what about the knock on effects resulting from this latest press-release? Firstly I think that the County Council had intended to get the Public Enquiry's hearings underway this summer but I can't imagine that this will happen now as surely they will want the removal to be completed first. Then there is the little matter of the effect on local tourism; I'm upbeat on this I have to say. We are told that the local beaches at least are monitored every day for anything coming ashore from Napoli so that the coast in that immediate vicinity should be kept in a pristine condition. I could be wrong but think that the ship's owners have this responsibility which should therefore reduce the cost on the public purse. The other point is that the presence of the stern section would I suggest be more of a draw for tourists rather than being a negative.

The Napoli saga has plenty of life in it yet!

MSC Napoli - work resuming this week

For those not living in the Branscombe/Sidmouth area the saga of the MSC Napoli is probably something you haven't thought about of late. But, as ever, if there is fresh activity relating to the Napoli this blog will let you know!

This week will see the commencement of the cutting up of the stern section of the wreck which will be followed by removal of the parts for recycling. It may be recalled that an earlier plan had been to lift the whole of the remainder of the ship with its massive accommodation block onto a barge and take it away. After some thought it seems that the salvage company would be taking on a bit too much with this idea but whether it was the men from the ministry or the salvers who got cold feet I don't know I'm afraid. Whatever the history it is evident that the stern section of Napoli is likely to be visible off Branscombe for a few months yet.

As I have blogged before it is a shame that the disposal decision couldn't have been made earlier bearing in mind the very quiet weather we have enjoyed over the past couple of months. Now everyone will keep their fingers crossed that the kind conditions continue.

MSC Napoli - setback for stern removal

Back on the 23 August I ran a story about the intention to remove the bulky remainder of the MSC Napoli in one piece from Lyme Bay. It was hoped to take it away on a very large barge this autumn but it now appears that this process won't go ahead. Therefore villagers in Branscombe are faced with many more months with the wreck on their doorstep. The slow process of cutting up the superstructure, removing the engine and taking away what's left of the hull could run into the start of next springs holiday season.

The one piece removal of the stern was always an ambitious target when you look at the sheer size of what's left of Napoli and the salvers would be going into new territory here. What I find so disappointing though is that it has taken quite so long to do the sums and realise 'Plan A' wasn't on. We have had mostly benign weather so far this autumn which seems to have gone to waste, a great shame. Although locals are voicing concerns about the delay and are worried about adverse publicity should any further oil leak out I have to say I am more upbeat about the situation. Yes even the slightest amount of oil on the beaches will get the media going, that's for sure. But I can't imagine any meaningful amount of oil left on board. And as more and more of the ship is cut up and removed from site it ought to get progressively easier to get any remaining oil out I would have thought. The last oil seepage when the hull was being split apart by explosives could in part be down to the unknowns inevitably linked with the fact that the exact outcome from the detonations couldn't be defined. But, barring a hurricane, the salvers ought to be in complete control now.

Following on from my piece exactly a month ago, on 18th September, about the residents of Branscombe relating the Napoli story and how it has affected them, the Branscombe Project will hold an exhibition about MSC Napoli at the village hall starting this Saturday. I believe it is due to end on the 26th of this month.

I had hoped that the County Council might have started the public enquiry before the year ended but I presume that they will now wait until all the wreck has gone.

Stern section of Napoli to be moved away

A story on the local news today states that the stern section of MSC Napoli currently in residence just off Branscombe Beach in Lyme Bay is to be removed in one piece. There is a salvage firm apparently (I think a Dutch company but not sure of that) who reckon that it is possible to carry out this operation and not have to cut up Napoli where she is now. October has been mentioned as the month when this would happen. No doubt it will depend on a favourable weather window.

Nothing as yet on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency website about this decision; no doubt the media will be catching up with the news in the next few hours!

The 'all in one piece' method has to be the best way of getting the stern section away but it seems that nobody imagined it could be done.