MSC Napoli separation - not quite there yet

Yesterday saw the second series of detonations on MSC Napoli and it had been hoped that they would be enough to finally break the ship completely in two but, although much weakened, Napoli is still in one piece. The plan now is to have another go tomorrow with more explosives: maybe a case of "third time lucky".

Of more immediate concern to locals, visitors and tourism providers is the oil washed up on the nearby beach. The trouble with the wretched stuff is that no matter how careful you are it is all to easy to pick up on shoes etc. With a lot of adverse publicity in the media would be holidaymakers are cancelling in some instances. And, rather like the time of the foot and mouth horror of 2001, it is difficult to get folk to understand that problems are localised.

We are told that the conditions around the vessel do not permit placing a boom around it at the present time but that the intention is to place a boom around the stern after separation. The nearby rivers Brit, Axe and Sid have been boomed.

Talk is of the stern taking about a month to cut up. On a positive note it was suggested if I recall correctly that unloading the containers could take at least 9 months. So I suppose it could be argued that they are up on the clock as we are about six months from the original beaching.

MSC Napoli - second day of explosions

Yesterday an attempt was made to split apart the Napoli by setting off explosions just forward of the accommodation block where her hull has already been rent. There was a perception that this would not be sufficient; this proved to be the case and so today, just after 2 pm, they detonated more explosions. I've not had confirmation that Napoli has been totally split in two but would imagine that she is now sufficiently weakened for the tugs to pull her apart.

Branscombe will be keeping its fingers crossed!

Explosives detonated on MSC Napoli

At about ten past two this afternoon explosives were remotely detonated on the MSC Napoli in an attempt to cut the deck plates close to the accommodation block where the ship's hull is already severely fractured.

I don't know at this stage whether this action has resulted in any further pollution.

The intention tomorrow is to cut through the vessel's longitudinal joists with the hope that the forward part can be dragged away.

Watch this space!

Heritage walk was OK I think.

Last Tuesday, in association with the Calstock Development Trust, I had the pleasure of leading a walk of about three miles looking at some aspects of the World Heritage Site for 'The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape'. We started fairly early in the morning at Gunnislake Station walking on the level to Albaston before dropping downhill through the Danescombe Valley and along the river frontage to Calstock. A prearranged buffet lunch was laid on at the Tamar Inn and then a short walk uphill to Calstock Station for a train ride back to the start.

Apart from the fact that the route was full of interest my intention was to minimize any uphill walking, provide a local hostelry with some business and also use the Tamar Valley Railway which in the early afternoon is always appreciative of extra custom!

Fortunately the rain stopped just as we were about to start the walk which made the stroll far more enjoyable. Everyone was happy with the experience, at least I think they were (!). It is amazing just how rapidly time goes and I was conscious that I would have liked to have said more. Having said that they had probably heard enough of my voice for one day! I was at pains to point out that I was an enthusiastic amateur not a seasoned professional. And one thing I won't do is spout an array of statistics like an out of control machine gun - that's not me.

The whole thing will be repeated next Saturday for those who find a weekday a no-no. I'm sure that there will be one or two refinements to the first walk but, all in all, I'm fairly happy.

Wood Energy Ltd wins top award

'Wood Energy Ltd' - perhaps not a household name but nevertheless this company based at Oakford just north of Tiverton has recently won a prestigious award. They have won the Ashden Award for sustainable energy and were presented with their award by Al Gore last month at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

They describe themselves as "the leading national supplier of high efficiency automatic wood-chip and wood-pellet boilers. Systems...are suitable for almost any application from offices to hospitals; country estates to industrial processes".

In my neck of the woods they have supplied a 3MW wood-chip boiler to heat the extensive greenhouses at Kernock Park Plants in the Tamar Valley. Two schemes in West Cornwall have been the National Trust's Penrose Estate office, where they were restricted in their design by being in a listed building, and the historic Trelowarren Estate.

It seems that each installation is very site specific to the needs of the customer.

We are lucky to have these modest sized companies in this country who are at the cutting edge of their technologies and so far as firms involved in energy efficiency products and projects are concerned, well Devon and Cornwall are leading the way. This country is really really good at these innovative technologies, one of our greatest strengths in my opinion and something on which we can lead the world.

I'm sure that the future for Dr Robin Cotton and his colleagues at 'Wood Energy' will continue to be bright,

MSC Napoli photos on website

If you are an MSC Napoli connoisseur there are hundreds of photos on the Marine and Coastguard Agency's website here. All too much for me! More interesting I think are the links to photos on the Radio Devon website in my entry on last Thursday (the 12th).

Attempt to break MSC Napoli in two.

Here we go again with the Napoli story! According to the Man from the Ministry, Robin Middleton, when the Napoli was moved seawards and examined by divers they discovered that the crack in her hull was up to 3 metres wide in places (or 10 ft in 'the old money' I'm used to). No wonder he made the quick decision that she couldn't be towed away then and there!

It seems that they are attempting to pull the two sections apart and at least tow away the forward part. How successful this might be and when is unpredictable. Unfortunately some oil has leaked out and washed up onto Branscombe beach. I suspect that in reality it isn't very much but already some birds have been caught up in it; my feeling is that the quantity of oil has a very disproportionate effect on the sea with Napoli being beached even closer to the shore this time.

Devon County Council bless them have a specific Napoli website here. Otherwise Radio Devon's regular news bulletins are a good way to get the latest Napoli news. Who knows - the ship might have successfully been split in two while I'm typing this!

MSC Napoli to be beached - again.

Followers of the saga of the MSC Napoli will be aware that following the successful operation to relieve her of her cargo the ship was refloated at the start of this week. By moving her off the sandbank near Branscombe and taking her slightly seaward it was possible for divers to at long last have a look at the structural damage she had sustained. The crack in her hull just forward of the accommodation block is evidently much worse than originally feared so, for safety's sake, Napoli will be beached again. Effectively her back is broken. She won't be on the move for the moment that's for sure.

In a previous entry I had expressed my concern that she should be thoroughly examined whether or not she was moved. Devon County Council's enquiry into all the events pertaining to the MSC Napoli is due to start later this year and the evidence the diving experts can produce will be fundamental in trying to ascertain the cause of Napoli's problem in the first place. The quality of the repairs after she had her first mishap is really important to determine if possible.

Looking back through the blog it is interesting to see just how often I've made an entry on the unfolding Napoli story. Starting with the dramatic rescue of her crew in the English Channel which I blogged about on 18th January this is I think the eighteenth time the MSC Napoli has been the subject I've written about. Phew!

It's been great to have comments from fellow bloggers Roger Thomas from Scotland (Applied Planetary Engineering) and Shaun from middle England (Shauns Bicester Info Blog). Thanks chaps!

This isn't the end of Napoli for me of course but as a reminder of the story so far here is a link showing a series of photos taken as the clean up began. And another link here of photos of this week's refloating.

Goss Moor diversion fully open

I had previously noted that part of the A30 diversion around the north side of Goss Moor in mid Cornwall had opened. Now the contractors have completed the whole scheme from the west end of Bodmin Bypass through to the next section of dual carriageway at Indian Queens. It is great to get this done before the school holiday build up of traffic. Two particular Eco friendly aspects of this construction are well worth noting. Firstly the new route, although slightly longer than the road it has superseded, has taken away traffic from Goss Moor itself; previously the moor had been bisected by the main road, not an ideal scenario for this very special habitat. Secondly, a considerable amount of china clay waste from the nearby tips was used in the building of the diversion - that's got to be sensible whatever way you look at it. So road schemes can produce benefits for the environment!

Smoking ban

From a purely personal perspective I'm pleased that the smoking ban in public places in England came into force on Sunday 1st July. I guess I've been fortunate in never having had a desire to smoke but I'm very conscious of the smell resulting from the habit and am increasingly concerned about the possible health effects from inadvertently inhaling other people's smoke.

Much has been made by some of the smoking lobby of supposedly another infringement of people's liberties. But what about the rights of the non smoking fraternity? It had been suggested that pubs could choose whether to be 'smoking' or 'non-smoking' so you had a choice. This might work in a town but not in a great many villages where there is just the one pub. Yes I realise that for many smokers who regard a fag to go with their pint in the same way I think of bacon and eggs - just isn't right if one of those magic ingredients is missing, being deprived of their fix spoils their drinking experience. But this is one instance where I think those concerned with health and wellbeing have got it right.

On the minus side this is yet one more law that is demanding on those who have to administer it. In this case it is our hard pressed councils; will this mean more staff are required? And I'm sure that there will be some anomalies so we can expect some clever solicitors exploiting loopholes. With so much complex legislation around these days it is inevitable that some folk will get caught out even though they don't intend to break the law.

Alan Johnston freed

Out of the blue this morning it was announced that BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been freed by his Arab captors in Gaza. Alan was taken almost four months ago and one has to admire the fortitude shown by his parents under the almost unbearable circumstances.

What also strikes me is the total unpredictability of so many of these groups and militias in the melting pot of the Middle East. Very difficult to understand when looking through western eyes. But for the moment the main thing is the happy outcome here.

Speedway success for Harris

Back on 30th June I had noted that Devon had won the rugby championship. I'm totally disinterested in rugger but wished to applaud Devon's success nevertheless. Another sport I don't follow is Speedway but I want to put on record an impressive win by a local lad who has made good. Cornishman Chris "Bomber" Harris won the British Grand Prix at Cardiff apparently so well done to him. He has ridden for Exeter Falcons and for St Austell. Even though it is a minority sport compared with soccer or cricket say it was pleasing to see the Harris story being the lead item on the back page of the Western Morning News yesterday.

Gordon Brown's cabinet

Just wanted to make one or two comments about Gordon Brown's first cabinet. Whilst waiting to see to see who was going to get what job my greatest concern was whether David Miliband would still be at DEFRA and if not who would be slotted into his old job. It didn't take long before it was announced that Miliband would be Foreign Secretary (once again taking over a job from Margaret Beckett and can only be better). So who would be the man (or woman) at the helm at DEFRA? It turned out to be Hilary Benn, son of the left wing conscience of the Labour Party Tony Benn.

Now Hilary Benn represents that great rural constituency of, ahem, Central Leeds. He is also a vegetarian of long standing. So should these points be held against him? Certainly not! He may have little or no connection with the countryside but I guess that applies to most of the Labour heavyweights. The thing is that Benn has immediately jumped into the lion's den by attending the Royal Show at Stoneleigh and appears to have made a favourable impression; certainly hearing him on 'Farming Today' on Radio 4 earlier I was pleased to note that he is prepared to listen and learn and very importantly engage with farmers.

Although I'm a carnivore I have total respect for vegetarians. Benn was asked about his own vegetarianism and replied "Judge me by what I do - not by what I eat. If we work on the basis of mutual respect, we shall get on fine". Heartening words because rearing of livestock is the backbone of farming in Devon and Cornwall: our farmers have great expertise in this area and of course the south west is brilliantly adapted for growing grass, as good as anywhere I guess.

Another point in Hilary Benn's favour is that he was the Overseas Development Minister and has seen at first hand some of the farming systems and environmental problems in the third world. He also comes over as one of the more decent men from New Labour. Let's hope his tenure is not interrupted by an early election. Personally I think Gordon Brown won't be tempted to go to the country this year - firstly it would be a big gamble, he hasn't waited 10 years for this prize only to risk throwing it away after such a short incumbency. Secondly, the longer he waits the greater chance there is of bringing more troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Thirdly if charges are brought in the 'Cash for Honours' affair then people will constantly be reminded of labour sleaze, better to get that sorted and hope it becomes history. Lastly the labour party is to all intents and purposes bankrupt and would have real problems financing a general election right now. From Gordon's point of view it makes sense to try and regain trust in the party and rebuild his membership base. But you never know with politicians!

Interestingly Brown has deputed various ministers to be the voices speaking up for the different regions of the country. Thus we have Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw, who has moved from DEFRA to the Health Ministry, as the spokesman for the southwest. How this will work in practise I don't know, we shall just have to wait and see.

I shall finish with Gordon Brown's worst appointment. He has unbelievably retained Des Browne as Defence Secretary. It was Browne who admitted the buck stopped with him over the debacle of the navy personnel captured by the Iranians but who didn't resign (so buck stopping is all empty rhetoric) and who had the words "I'm sorry" almost forcibly dragged from his lips by the Tories. Now he also has the responsibility of looking after Scotland's interest. There could well be a problem here because a decision has to be made over the future of the Navy's shipyards - watch out for any bias toward Scotland.

What a week that was!

What a week that was! Well not especially so for me I have to say but in terms of happenings on the national scene it most certainly has been a momentous week. Not only did the Glastonbury Festival end in a mudbath (I've already commented about this) but there has been really serious flooding in many parts of the country. Although the greatest amount of damage appears to have been in and around Sheffield with therefore a lot of media coverage very many other places have suffered particularly in 'middle England'. Worcestershire was one of these but I am pleased to say that one brother living in that county has not been affected, likewise another brother in Herefordshire. I've luckily never suffered flooding but for those who have had to evacuate their homes because of flood water well my heart goes out to them. The loss of personal possessions, the fact you can't live in the special comfort of your own home, the sight of all the mud when the water does drain away, it must be unbearable.

Wednesday saw Tony Blair receive a standing ovation in the commons after his final PMQs and David Cameron got the Tories to join in! Then off to the Palace to surrender his position as Prime Minister to be followed by Gordon Brown who was asked by the Queen to form a new government. In his first speech outside No 10, and with his wife at his side, GB repeatedly used the word 'new'. We shall soon see I expect how new he really is. Comment on his new cabinet will come on another blog entry. Suffice to say that the glitzy showbiz feel of Tony Blair has already gone - I don't think we'll see Gordon Brown taking his summer hols at the home of some pop star or another. Certainly he is a very different creature to Blair and that their often fractious relationship has survived till now is remarkable.

On the terrorism front Brown and his new home secretary Jacqui Smith have already had to deal with threats that are thought to be Al-Qaeda inspired: two Mercedes cars with explosives ready to be detonated have been found in London but were fortunately made safe before the terrorists could do their dirty work. Then two Asian men tried to cause mayhem at Glasgow airport by driving a jeep at the main terminal meeting with the evident intention of causing an explosion. Two men were arrested as part of that incident considered to be related to the two failed attempts in London to cause mass carnage. There have now been further arrests.

Yes, it certainly has been a week!

Decline of farmland birds - is farming to blame?

Earlier this month the RSPB issued a press release regarding their recent study into the changes in farmland bird populations in the EU during the last 25 years. Now I am very appreciative of the vast amount of good work the RSPB do but, in common with other 'green' organisations, they find it difficult to be totally objective in their conclusions when they bring out controversial reports.

It is vital to recognise that humans as 'top dogs' (whether they are always deserving of that appellation is another matter) are always influencing the balance of nature. Just about every activity we engage in is going to affect the numbers and distribution of species usually for the worse but occasionally for the better. This applies to both flora and fauna. Now the RSPB have done great work in bringing some birds back from the brink; a good example is the cirl bunting now doing well in South Devon and being reintroduced into Cornwall, this success being reliant on the co-operation of farmers.

Going back to this recent report we have in the red corner the RSPB and in the blue corner Anthony Gibson, the media face in the Westcountry for the NFU. From the RSPB side the 'Pan-European Bird Monitoring Scheme' appears to show that 33 of the EU's most common farmland birds have fallen on average by 44% in the last 25 years and then goes on to say "their declines are clear proof of the environmental degradation that has occurred across European farmland". Now Mr Gibson has called foul on this and in I think a measured response has flagged up some flaws in the RSPB reasoning.

To summarise Gibson's viewpoint he first refers to the British Trust for Ornithology. He states that they have a list of 21 farmland birds whose numbers have increased over the past 30 years. Just three (!) of them feature on the RSPB's list. He points out that pesticides and fertilisers are now more targeted (I assume he is right) and that there are now a lot of agri-environment schemes (can't argue with that). He then points out there is increasing predation on the smaller birds by other successful species (magpies for example).

I like Anthony's line of reasoning on this; the RSPB are notorious about not acknowledging any increased predation by magpies, crows, birds of prey generally and they disappoint me in that regard. Let's face facts: it is incredibly difficult to manage or at least influence nature to keep the various species numbers in step with each other. I'm not saying that the agricultural system in Europe is perfect but I do wish the RSPB could be more balanced in their reports and refrain from quite so much farmer bashing.

Torbay litter bin - picture link

Since writing my piece on the first of the high tech litter bins in Torbay earlier today I've come across a picture of it at this site. Looks very smart doesn't it.

Mud at Glastonbury

Mud at the Glastonbury Festival! Now there's a surprise! I must emphasise that I'm not writing from personal knowledge, just from the pictures in the media. All the tea in China wouldn't be enough reason for me to go there! It's not that I dislike my fellow human beings but the thought of joining 170,000 plus of them in a muddy field is not my idea of fun. In today's Western Morning News their reporter names 10 of the star turns but I confess none of them mean anything to me - yes I know I've led a very sheltered life!

But it fascinates me just how incredibly diverse people are in the make up of their personalities. I mean I have absolutely zero desire to attend some grand event in some vast stadium, it would be hell for me. But sharing something in a local pub or village hall well now you are talking. Perhaps this is why I am so comfortable(and lucky) living in a village.

What with Glastonbury this weekend and the start of the Wimbledon fortnight next week no wonder the weather is so unsettled! But there is still plenty of time left for a heatwave this summer.

New litter bin unveiled in Torbay

A new design of litter bin has been the subject of a media story in Torbay this week. One problem of traditional litter bins is that they fill rapidly thus demanding frequent and costly emptying whereas if their contents could be compacted somehow then you could maybe get say five times as much in. Believe it or not someone has come up with a solution - there seems to be no limit to man's inventiveness!

I'm not sure of my facts here but I believe that this idea has come from America. Inside the bin there is some sort of mechanism, solar power operated, that squashes down the contents thus significantly improving the capacity. Very clever! Torbay Council it seems will be replacing more and more bins with this high tech version.

There is such scope for the use of solar power. I think that there are some street lights in remote locations that are using the sun as their source of power. Such solar powered projects might have a considerable environmental cost in their manufacture, or maybe not - I don't know. But once in situ the benefits start mounting up. So if solar rubbish bins are possible it makes you wonder what other things powered by our sun might appear in the future.

Further section of Goss Moor diversion set to open

I had recently noted on this blog that part of the A30 improvement at Goss Moor in Mid Cornwall had been opened. From next week another section of this vital road link will come into operation: this is at the eastern end between Victoria and Innis Downs. There is some further work to be completed at the western end of the new dual carriageway and it is anticipated that the whole scheme will come to fruition later this summer.

Flooding at Boscastle - midsummer 2007

Less than 3 years after the epic flood of August 2004 Boscastle on the North Cornish coast has again been the recipient of a deluge. Reports indicate that damage now is not comparable with that earlier event but having said that there is two feet of flood water in some properties with the approach roads to Boscastle being impassable to normal traffic.

Good news is that the rivers Valency and Jordan appear to be containing their water, the flooding is due to run off from the surrounding hills and fields. But the rainstorm must be a horrible reminder of what happened before. The Environment Agency will be witnessing how things are working since they started implementing the flood scheme. No doubt today's events will be quite a news story tomorrow.

Intense rain - an indication of climate change?

As I type this the skies are leaden outside, and the early darkness to the evening is intensified by the dark dense green of the summer foliage which abounds in this part of the valley. Although quite windy at the moment we have so far been spared the very heavy deluges that places like Kent and the Midlands are enduring.

So the question is this: are the incidents of flooding an indication of the much talked about climate change? First we have to accept that there have always been extreme weather events in this country. I'm old enough to recall the Lynmouth flood disaster of 1952 and the devastating North Sea floods of the following year, both sadly with significant numbers of deaths. Yes we always have had freakish weather but to me it seems as if almost every year now some part of the country has such heavy rain that many properties are severely flooded.

One of the problems I find in making comparisons with yesteryear is that rainfall figures quoted are usually for a 24 hour period. What seems to be happening is that the rain is more intense but over a shorter period - I can't help thinking that 4 hour comparisons would be more meaningful. In fact the statistics I would find particularly interesting are year on year comparisons of intense 4 or possibly 6 hour rain conditions and also from insurers the numbers of homes so badly damaged by the weather that their occupants have to seek temporary accommodation elsewhere. Also how many cars get written off each year because of water damage. Publishing these sorts of figures would I feel give some sort of indication of the economic cost of the weather.

But this is where one has to be careful. As more houses are built, more gardens paved over for the parking of cars, more roads constructed then the potential is there for more flooding. You have to be cautious with statistics!

Climate change is certainly taking place (whether man made or part of a natural cycle is an argument I'm not venturing into at the moment!) and the increase in average temperatures, the reduction in frost and snow, the long periods of dry weather such as we had in April this year and the increased prevalence of outbreaks of almost tropical rain all indicate this. Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms seem to be on the increase as well.

One thing is for sure: the fierceness of the weather comes at some cost to our comfort and well being and affects the economy in numerous ways.

Sloppy journalism

Just what do we mean by the South West? I have my own ideas on this but others might have a different definition. The reason I am posing this question is because of the wording of a report in today's Western Morning News. It's all about the "draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy" by the National Housing Federation, the Chartered Institute of Housing and the South West RSL Planning Consortium apparently. I don't know anything about the remit of these three organisations either.

We are told that they are calling for the planned number of homes in the South West to be upped from 7,500 to 10,000 a year. But exactly how far does the "South West" extend? We are not told and we seldom are in other reports. It would be nice to have it spelt out as to what our region consists of; perhaps different organisations have their own definitions. Whatever I find this sloppy journalism quite tedious because if the geographical context is open to doubt then quoting figures is meaningless.