From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, February 28, 2008

A launch date to officially begin the Devon County Council-led public inquiry into the beaching of the MSC Napoli is set for Tuesday 4 March.

Representatives from organisations and authorities affected by the incident will attend the launch ceremony at 1:30pm at The Sea Shanty, Branscombe.

The Leader of Devon County Council, Brian Greenslade, and Council Executive Member and local resident Margaret Rogers, will welcome guests.

Cllr Greenslade gave a commitment last year that in the absence of a national Government-led public inquiry, that Devon would themselves conduct a local one with an independent Chairman and Committee.

The purpose of the inquiry is to learn lessons to inform local and national contingency plans to minimise the potential for an incident similar to the MSC Napoli reoccurring, and for authorities to be better prepared to minimise any impact of future incidents.

Specifically the inquiry will consider:

• To what degree the environmental sensitivity of the coastline should be a factor in determining places of refuge for shipping in emergencies
• Whether the UK coastline, marine and estuarine environment is adequately protected under existing legislation
• Whether international shipping conventions are rigorous enough and fully supported internationally
• Whether the statutory powers in respect of salvage of goods are sufficiently clear and robust and the relative responsibilities of agencies sufficiently well-defined and understood to prevent public disorder.

It will take into account:

• The impact of the incident on the local economy, environment and well being of local communities
• The effectiveness of the various agencies involved in responding to the incident, their areas of responsibility, their inter-relationship and relationship with local communities, and identify any constraints such as resources, communications, command and control systems and training.

The event next week kicks off an extended period of preliminary evidence gathering.

Local authorities, Government departments and agencies, businesses and landowners, communities, their elected representatives, environmental and conservation bodies, the general public and any interested party are all invited to contribute their views throughout the Spring.

There will be a number of ways that people can contribute to the Inquiry:

• The Council is designing a dedicated webpage for submissions online.
• Inquiry Response Packs will be made as widely available as possible from libraries, local government offices, schools, town and parish councils, and local County Councillors, for anyone wishing to make a submission in writing.
• The Council's Community Roadshow vehicle, which attends local events, will provide a further opportunity for people and organisations to submit their contributions to the Inquiry.

To request an Inquiry Response Pack, contact the MSC Napoli Inquiry Co-ordinating Office 01392 380101.

All evidence will be catalogued and prepared pending appointment of an independent Chairman and Committee of Inquiry, who may also invite witnesses to recount or expand upon their written submissions at subsequent hearings in public.

Councillor Brian Greenslade said:

"This Inquiry is to be a positive, constructive process to look in detail at what events led up to the incident, what happened during it, and what has happened after the incident, to learn any lessons that better prepare our contingency plans for the future. It will give everyone affected the opportunity to be heard and to give their views about what has been done well, and about what could be done better in future.

"Incidents in recent months just go to show that events like the Napoli can happen anytime, and as a county with two beautiful coastlines, it's right that we should learn any lessons."

Councillor Margaret Rogers said:

"This event has touched the lives of people in Branscombe and communities along the Jurassic coastline of Devon. It is right that the County Council as a community leader provides an opportunity for people to share their views and experiences arising from the beaching of the Napoli, so that we can help ensure that incidents like these do not happen in the future and if, regrettably, any do occur then everyone would be better prepared to deal with such an emergency."

The Inquiry will follow a similar process to the County Council-led inquiry into the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001; recommendations and lessons learned from that inquiry were also adopted in national contingency plans.

Notes to Editors

Media are invited to attend. Please contact Mike Bomford on 01392 382173 or email mike.bomford@devon.gov.uk to confirm attendance.

Councillor Brian Greenslade can be contacted on 01271 372065. Councillor Margaret Rogers can be contacted on 01271 680384.