The container ship that ran aground off the Devon coast six months ago was refloated yesterday.
In a Whisky Galore-style goldrush, hundreds of people descended on Branscombe beach in January when part of the cargo of the 62,000-tonne MSC Napoli, including BMW motorcycles and car parts, washed ashore. More than 2,000 containers had to be hoisted off the deck before the final stage of the salvage operation could begin yesterday.
Just after dawn yesterday 58,000 tonnes of seawater were pumped from the ship’s holds, allowing her to float free of the sandbank where she had been grounded. She was then towed into deeper water by a giant tug.
Divers will assess the damage under the ship’s hull before deciding whether to tow her to port, dismantle and remove her in pieces, or sink her.
The cost of the salvage operation is expected to come to £50 million, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency disclosed yesterday. The bill will be met by insurers acting on behalf of the ship’s owners, the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
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Mark Clark, of the agency, said that there were several options for dealing with the ship, “all of which present problems and opportunities. The weather is, of course, a driving factor. Whether it is a case of cutting her up, taking her to another port or another method will become clear in the next few days. We cannot tell anything until the survey has been completed – but if there is no structural integrity she cannot go far.”
During the refloating operation two tonnes of oil leaked into the sea from one of the ship’s holds, and was dispersed. Once in its new position the Napoli was “trimmed” by adjusting the amount of ballast to keep her stable.
Paul Johnston, of Greenpeace, said that sinking at sea was not an option. He said: “The end of this operation will be when the vessel is either towed to a port or dismantled at sea and disposed of in separate pieces.
“What cannot be allowed to take place is for them to just sink it at sea. That would set an appalling and unacceptable precedent.”