Debunkering of MSC NAPOLI Begins

The debunkering operation from a beached 4,400+ TEU container ship has commenced. The MSC NAPOLI was intentionally run aground last week to prevent an even worse disaster. The distressed vessel ended up losing as many as 100 containers into the sea near Sidmouth, Devon. Risk assessments were carried out in an effort to ensure that the vessel remained whole, and in a sheltered location. The 16-year-old vessel is registered in London, and was reported to have last been inspected by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in May 2005, when officials said it met safety standards.

Rescue operations were hampered by storms in the English Channel last Thursday after the ship was disabled when the engine room flooded more than 40 miles from the Cornish coast. All of the 26 crewmembers were rescued via helicopters, as they abandoned the ill-fated vessel in the face 40-foot seas and winds of up to 70 mph. No major injuries were reported. The vessel was carrying about 2,400 containers, some of which were said to contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

Ashore, large numbers of local residents and scavengers pilfered cargo from the containers stranded on the beach, despite the best efforts of local authorities to limit such activities. Plans are underway to utilize a crane-equipped barge from Rotterdam to lift off remaining containers and place them on board a second barge, which will then land the shore. Although the latest reports from the scene indicate that the vessel’s main fuel tanks are intact, the vessel has been boomed as a precautionary measure.

As the MarEx e-newsletter went on-line with this edition, the debunkering operation from the vessel was reported to be well underway, with salvors removing oil from the stricken vessel at rates of up to 30 tons per hour. The operation, being conducted under difficult conditions, has largely been successful so far, with minimal volumes of oil reported escaping during the recovery process. Weather conditions were improving and were expected to be favorable for the next 72 hours.