From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, July 20, 2007

The Leader of Devon County Council has repeated his commitment that the Council will lead a full inquiry into the beaching of the MSC Napoli off the East Devon coast in January.

Councillors at a meeting in Exeter discussed the ongoing situation with the MSC Napoli, specifically within the context of the actions taken this week to break the vessel in two.

Concerns about the oil clean up were voiced by Cllr Margaret Rogers, Executive Member for the Council's Environment directorate and local Member and resident for Branscombe.

"Any spot of oil is too much oil," she said. "Our beautiful, fragile environment needs protection; our residents and visitors want to enjoy our seaside and county so we must do our utmost to conclude this matter and go on to learn lessons about prevention of such incidents as well as the most effective management once any do occur."

However the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have described the leak as minimal given that all the ship's fuel tanks are now empty and that any potential for a far larger oil leak has been averted.

Contractors appointed to clean the beaches also say that every effort is being made to minimise the impact of the oil coming ashore.

Councillors spoke of their wider concerns about the decision that led the ship to Lyme Bay after initially getting into trouble in French waters, and with it a belief that Lyme Bay is a preferred location for stricken ships in the channel because of its natural shelter and shallower waters.

Councillor Humphrey Temperley, Executive Member for Economic Regeneration, Strategic Planning and Regional Affairs, said:

"It's not surprising that the French Government thought it ok for the ship to come to the UK and it seems that the UK Government also thought it OK. But Devon has to put its foot down in this matter."

Attempts to break the vessel in two continue today with what authorities hope will be the final set of cutting charges to be used to cut through the last two joists that are holding the ship in one piece. Once separated, the bow will be towed a short distance and anchored pending a decision where then to take it for recycling, and the stern will be boomed as part of the ongoing counter pollution measures.